Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/171

Rh carefully removed. Hence it will be found, that the earth in which an old stock has grown, undisturbed for several years, on digging up its roots, in a manner resembles wood-ashes; because it is deprived of all the soluble parts.

Without entering into a minute account of the culture of this useful plant, we shall briefly remark, 1. That the most proper season for transplanting strawberries, is in the month of August; when they will have sufficient time to take root before the winter: 2. That it is not advisable either to clip or break off the superfluous shoots, but to wind them around the principal stem, and secure the ends between the stalks; by which simple method, the plant will be supported in an erect situation, and the fruit be preserved from the ravages of vermin, as well as from being soiled on the ground: 3. To promote the growth of the berries, the contiguous earth around the stocks ought to be covered in the spring with tanners' waste; or, where this cannot be easily procured, with oyster-shells: thus, all weeds will be effectually suppressed, and an uniform beneficial moisture may be ensured. Lastly, when the first rudiments of the fruit appear, the soil ought to be carefully stirred by the hoe, and then manured with the following composition, that will remarkably contribute to its fertility. Take three parts of old rotten dung, one part of soot, and a similar portion of dry soap-boilers' ashes; mix them thoroughly, and spread this compost loosely by the hand, so that the newly-moved ground may be superficially covered.

There is another, and more advantageous, method of propagating strawberries by the seed: it was originally recommended by, and has been carried to great perfection by. The seeds, consisting of small oblong, dark red-brown grains, should be collected from the surface of the most perfect, ripe berries, which have almost become dry on the stalk; and be preserved till the succeeding spring; when they ought to be uniformly mixed with a little dry mould, and sown in a loose, rich garden soil, which is properly worked, and levelled with the rake. Next, it will be useful to sift finely pulverized earth, or rotten dung, over the beds, to the thickness of half-a-crovvn piece only, and to cover the whole with branches or boughs of fir-trees. In the course of three weeks, the young plants will appear, when the covering ought to be removed, and the branches set upright along the borders of the beds; in order to shelter the tender sprouts from the influence of the meridian sun. Others sow the strawberry-seed in August, and protect the young germs with mats suspended over the beds, by means of poles. The plants, thus raised, ought to be carefully weeded and watered: those reared in the spring, may be transplanted in the autumn of the same year; but, when sown in the latter season, they must remain in the seed-bed till the following summer. This mode of cultivating strawberries possesses many advantages over the usual practice: thus, it will be easy to obtain the most delicate foreign sorts, of which it would otherwise be difficult to procure off-sets; nay, by sowing the seed of degenerated sorts,