Garden Notes - Strawberry Bed

Protecting a Strawberry-Bed

Strawberries thrive best in a compost of two parts rich, sandy loam and one of leafy mould and sand. They require mulching with manure in March, and surrounding with straw in May to keep the crop clean. During June water frequently, and apply liquid manure as soon as the fruit changes color. Our illustration shows a handy method of protecting Strawberries from the ravages of birds. It consists of light wooden frames covered with wore netting. These are placed side by side until the bed is covered.

Strawberry Propagation

To obtain new Strawberry plants the runners should be pegged down in June or July. By August the new plants will be sufficiently rooted to allow of removal. To raise new plants for forcing, sink 3 in. pots in the soil, and allow runners to root in the pots, as shown in the illustration. When well rooted they should be transplanted into 6 in pots, and placed on a cinder bed outdoors until October, then transferred to the frame until January, after which they may be brought to perfection in the greenhouse.

A Hotbed

A Hotbed is simply a mass of manure (C), with a cold frame (A) placed on it. The fresh manure and straw must be well mixed, and allowed to "sweat" for about a week. The heap should then be turned inside over and again well mixed, lawn mowings, weeds, &c. (B) being added as desired. The turning should be repeated a third time, after which the hotbed may be made in a dry, sunny position. Make bed 15 in larger than frame, and three feet deep. A stick thrust into the bed enables the heat to be tested.

Layering

Roses, Clematis, Carnations, &c, are easily propagated by Layering. A shallow trench is made round the plant, and a little sandy soil thrown in. A cut is then made in the under side of the shoot selected, and continued up the center for about an inch, thus forming a tongue (1). This shoot is then pegged down strongly as shown at A, and the soil packed round to keep it in position. Layers of Carnations made in July may be detached from the parent plant the following October.

Protecting Blooms

When it is desired to prevent choice exhibition blooms opening too rapidly, or being damaged by showers, shades are sometimes used. We show two convenient methods of fixing shades. For Phloxes, Delphiniums, and any plants with spiked blooms, the cap may be supported on three stakes tied at the top (A); for single blooms the shade (B) is generally used. A shade with glass top is sometimes used-this of course admits more light.