‘en, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 157 
Pirst Plantings of strawberries for the production of early fruit can be 
) ¢ curing the month. The land should be a rich loam, deeply worked and 
jeetully prepared, and, where the same is available, should receive a good 
Tessing of well-rotted farmyard manure, or, if this is not obtainable, then a 
rssing of 6 to 8 ewt. per acre of a mixture of Thomas’ phosphate or super- 
osphate of lime or bones and sulphate of ‘potash, in the proportion of 5 cwt. 
| Posphate to 1 ewt. of sulphate of potash. If possible, choose a piece of 
: bes that can be watered, and that is as free from frost as possible, as, if the 
Jo jmter and spring are dry, a supply of water for irrigation will be of the 
preatest Assistance ; and freedom from frost will secure early fruit. Obtain 
ie Y Tunners, not old plants split up; and where the strawberry leaf blight 
ny Cwilent, remove and burn all old leaves on the runner, and dip the crown 
' remaining leaves, but not the roots, into Bordeaux Mixture to destroy the 
{ores of the fungus causing this disease; and thus obtain healthy young 
ine to start with. Set the plants out in rows 3 feet apart and 1 foot apart 
lab, ®row where the plot is to be worked by horse power, but where the 
Our 18 by hand 2 feet between the rows is sufficient. If the strawberries are 
, Utigated, then the land must be graded level, and should be laid off in 
a us Tows, there being 4 feet between each double row, and 2 feet between 
Yo 
Ws forming the double row. 3 
| do yte plants should be set on a slight ridge formed from the centre of the 
‘ rh lerow, which is thus lower than the plants, and forms a channel along 
Ch the water runs, and irrigates the plants on both sides of it. 
1 The following are some of the best varieties of strawberries to plant:— 
| loegouetite, Trollope’s Victoria, and Pink’s Prolific. Marguerite is early, and 
oe We In fairly light loams, but is very subject to the leaf blight; still on 
ii of Its size and productiveness it pays to grow it, and keep it free from 
1 He Pink’s Prolific is a very healthy, high-coloured, showy fruit — good 
| ty “rich voleanic loams. ‘Trollope’s Victoria requires a rich heavy loam 
| large the best fruit, and when grown in such a soil it is a good bearer of 
| She Showy fruit, There are other varieties, such as the Captain, Edith, and 
time that are worth testing, and some varieties of local origin that may 
| tested se to be of considerable value for our climate, but until such are fully 
“ lingg U8 better to stick to the three first-named sorts when planting on a 
~ TTairly large seale. 
_ Farm and Garden Notes for February. 
| totem Notes.—During this month plough up and prepare the land for a 
| Potato. 7°P: Small seed potatoes are best for March planting, as the larger 
} Poy, hi require to be cut, and the sets are liable to rot in the ground. Deep 
is Dg is recommended. Those who have a rich deep soil, in fine tilth, clear 
Cds, will do well to sow lucerne ; but if the weeds are still making their 
| itis hance tn consequence of the present close, muggy, showery weather, then 
| tat, to defer the sowing until the ground is perfectly clear. If seed 
} Nee °8 are becoming wormy in the pit owing to dry weather, they should at 
| Steg bie Sorted out and planted. Maize may still be sown on the coast, but 
| tos iN favourable situations it will run the risk of being damaged, should 
| bong 7 PPear in Tune. Early potatoes may be planted. Where the soil is poor, 
| Sede St or short manure should be used. For an early winter crop, sow 
} 5toung Unips and mangelwurzel. Under conditions of well-prepared, clean 
» SOW panicum, Cape barley, sorghum, vetches, Kafir corn, and imphee. 
