Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/221

 therefore, prepare the ground the season before, planting and incorporating it with an abundance of manure, to the depth of eighteen inches. The exposure must be entirely free from the shade of trees or buildings. For early crops, plant on an aspect that has an inclination to the south or south-east. For late crops choose the north or west. By this method the Strawberry season is greatly prolonged.

.—The periods for performing this is in March and April, or August and September: in either of these months we have been equally successful. Beds four feet wide. each containing three rows, and the plants fifteen inches apart in the row, leaving alleys two and a half feet wide between the beds, for the operations of gathering, weeding, hoeing, &c. Never take any other crop from among them, except a few Radishes or Lettuce, the first season. Destroy the runners after the middle of July, unless they are wanted for plants; hoe them freely, and keep the ground in an open condition. Some light, rough litter should be sprinkled over the plants during Winter, in cold localities. In light soils dig in be- tween the rows every Autumn, a few inches of well-rotted dung; but in strong and deep alluvial soils it may be dispensed with. In dry seasons give the plants a few waterings, after they have done blooming, with any liquid manure, or other rich water, which will greatly promote the swelling of the fruit. A plantation will last three or four years; and to have this fruit in perfection plant out a portion every year. For this purpose we advise to plant those sorts that are called pistilate or female plants, allowing every sixth row to be of a variety that is called staminate or male plants. This latter sort keep within bounds, to prevent the runners intermingling with the bearing kinds. It is a prudent precaution to lay straw or other clean material between the rows of the fruiting plants, before they come into bloom, to prevent the fruit being injured by heavy rains, sand, or dust. 10