25 MAY 1956, Page 38

STRAWBERRY TIME

Glut or famine seem the lot of the strawberry grower. An hour or two of sunshine ripens, a day or two of cloud produces mould. Con- tending with slugs is part of the battle. Straw- berries they may be, but anything that harbours slugs or slaters is best avoided. It is a tedious business propping fruit up on forked sticks, and as an alternative one can use 'mats.' Perhaps this puts the price of the fruit out of reason but one either indulges in strawberries and cream by virtue of a long purse or one's backache, at least until a glut brings the price down.