Improvement of Edible Fraits. 269 



Naturally, their growth is diminutive, — the fruit small, — and, 

 except on very dry situations, very tasteless. When trans- 

 planted into the garden, where they have the advantage of a 

 rich soil and suitable cultivation, they are improved in all 

 respects : — many varieties have been imported from other coun- 

 tries, and a far greater number have been obtained in this, chiefly 

 from seeds properly prepared by cross impregnation : by which 

 means, the strawberry has been wonderfully improved ; instance 

 the hautboys, scarlet, chilli, but particularly the splendid vari- 

 eties, called " Wilmot's superb," and " Keen's seedlings." 



Of the Raspberry. — This is also found wild in the British 

 isles, on its native site, (with its companions, the bramble, and 

 dewberry) — its shoots and fruit are diminutive, though the flavour 

 of the berry is rich. No plant requires the skilful hand of the 

 pruner more than this ; of all others, it is, perhaps, the most 

 viviparous, throwing up, annually, a vast redundancy of shoots, 

 which, if not displaced at the proper season, would impoverish 

 not only the fruit of the present, but also the bearing wood of 

 the next year. The flavour of the fruit is much esteemed, and 

 no product of the garden is of more use to the confectioner. 

 The Dutch fruiterers have been successful in obtaining two or 

 three fine varieties from seeds ; and as this field of improve- 

 ment is open, no doubt further exertions will bring forth new 

 and valuable sorts. 



Of the Gooseberry. — ^This is another indigenous produc- 

 tion of this country. In its wild state, we find it a low irre- 

 gular bush, thickly set with spines, and bearing small, rough, 

 insij)id berries. When introduced into the garden, the richer 

 soil, pruning, defending from insects, &c., produces a wonder- 

 ful change ; the growth becomes more robust and luxuriant, 

 the leaves are larger, and the fruit is increased in size, improved 

 in flavour, and the whole plant assumes a new character ; no 

 domesticated fruit sports into greater variety than this: the 

 endless lists of new sorts is a proof of this, and many large and 

 excellent sorts there are, particularly the old Warrington red. 



Of the Currant. — The native place of this useful fruit is 

 not exactly ascertained ; nearly allied to the gooseberry, it re- 

 ceives the same treatment, shows the same changes, and may 

 be further improved by the same means ; a cross between the 



