A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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S T R 571 S T R
a plan which answers well, and by of the strawberry, plant both in spring
which good strong plants are procured and early in autumn ; their method is
in one^month from the present year's to plant two rows about twelve inches
runners.
apart, and the plants twelve inches from
" The compost used is good strong each other in the rows; between every
loam, well mixed with rotten dung from two rows as describetl, they leave spaces
the hot-bed linings; twenty-four-sized of two feet, which are, by the growth of
pots are the best for Keene's Seedlings, the vines, reduced to one foot, thus
and thirty-twos for Grove End Scarlets, making each bed two feet wide with an
Thelattervariety answers for early fore- alley of twelve inches between them;
ing better than' any other sort, when when planted in the spring they usually
strawberries are wanted by the end of raise some dwarf crop on the same
>Iarch.
ground, but that had better be omitted
"Having filled the pots with the com- —keeping the soil cultivated and toppost,
thev are removed at once to the dressed with some well-rotted manure,
strawberry quarters, and arranged on In the autumn, they spread on the sur-
each side of the rows, amongst the run
ners. The middle of July, when the
plants are emitting roots, is the proper
time to begin the operation of layering;
having previously prepared a quantity
of pegs, the runners that are rooted into
the ground are carefully removed, and
their roots inserted in the pots, and peg
face, both beds and alleys, a good coat
of coarse manure, such as will lie lightly,
the loose portion of which may be
raked off in the spring, when the alleys
are dug, and covered with straw, to exclude
draught and screen the trusses of
fruit on the edge of the bed from contact
with the earth. Exhausted tanner's
i
ged down. Put three plants into the bark, or saw-dust scattered among the
twenty-four pots, and one in the thirty- plants, is highly serviceable in protecttwos
; they immediately begin growing,
being supported by the mother plant
and will only require occasional watering
in dry weather.
When the plants are well rooted,
which is in about one month, detach
them from the old plants, and remove
to their winter quarters.
Beds are prepared for them with a
bottom of coal ashes, and they are
plunged in old tan; each bed surrounded
with a stratum of coal ashes six inches
ing the fruit from grit.
" Varieties. Hudson or Scarlet.^
This variety is grown almost exclu
sively for the supply of the Philadelphia
market; it appears to be distinct from
what is known as the old Hudson, in
New York, which Downing describes as
having a neck, whereas the Philadelphia
Hudson has none, (unless occasionally
spontaneous seedlings are found with
elongated crowns.) It is undoubtedly
one of the best, though from want of
wide, and as high as the top of the pots, skill in its culture it is frequently unfruitwhich
prevents worms from working ful. The fruitful and barren flowers are
amongst them." Gard. Chron. on separate plants, and as the barren are
Thus far we have copied the English most vigorous, they are liable to take
edition of this work. The American nearly exclusive possession; in such
reader, t^hough he will find that which
will instruct in the culture of this delicious
fruit, will perceive there is too
much detail and tedious labour for his
practice.
Many of the varieties named in the
preceding article are comparatively uncases
the inevitable result is, but little
fruit is obtained. The proper method
is to carefully cull them when in flower,
(the experienced can detect them by the
foliage as well as flowers,) exterminating
the larger portion of the male or stami-
niferous plants, as one in ten suffices to
known in this country, and others have impregnate the pistiliferous or fruitbeen
tested, and found wanting. Our, bearing flowers. Much has been said
American Seedlings have, on the whole, on this subject, and most positive denigiven
most satisfaction, and are most als of the fact here stated have been
reliable, whilst the eff'orts now being made, but after all it is incontrovertible,
' made to produce varieties promise, from and remains a fixed fact.' Our limits
the success already attained, to give all will not admit of embarking further in
that could be desired. the controversy, which has been prac-
" The market gardeners around Phi- 1 tically settled around Philadelphia for
fifty years, by the German truck women.
ladelphia, who are successful cultivators [