1856.] The Strawberry Seedling. 313 



again repeated, ere the summer was spent we had about thirty plants 

 of the same family, and were able to set out our beginning of a new 

 Strawberry-bed in the open garden. There had been one or two blossoms 

 on the original vine during its first summer's growth, but still the fruit 

 was unknown, and also the ability of the plant to endure the climate to 

 which it had been transplanted. These were matters yet to be developed, 

 but, meanwhile, the new-born stranger must have a name — ay, and a 

 christening ! 



After hearing an endless variety of suggestions, most of which had 

 reference to myself— as "the 'Emile' Seedling" — "the Doctor Seed- 

 ling," etc., — the ceremony of name-giving was duly and gravely per- 

 formed — the sprinkling being still from Lizzie's tiny watering-pot, 

 pronouncing my bantling to be "The Clover Hill Seedling" — and thus 

 rendering back to kind mother Earth the merit that belonged to her. 



Strawberry time, the following spring, was most impatiently waited 

 for, and when it came, our little bed did not disappoint us, for it yielded 

 fruit, and the fruit was pronounced good ; the berries, it was soon dis- 

 covered, had one peculiarity most acceptable to those who unwillingly 

 perform the task of hulling strawberries. " The Clover Hill Seedling " 

 always leaves its hull upon the vine; indeed, it is almost impossible to 

 pick them with the hulls on, and the fruit comes to the basket ready for 

 the table, needing no second handling. It was soon ascertained, too, 

 that our seedling possessed another great value or peculiarity, in being 

 a constant bearer, from early strawberry time, until quite late in the 

 autumn. The plants only take a rest of about one month in mid-sum- 

 mer, and I have seen the pale berries covered with snow in December, 

 when the sun had not the needed influence to color them. 



Four summers have now so much increased our bed that we have an 

 abundance of fruit, and have supplied many plants to friends at a dis- 

 tance ; two families, in Virginia, have largely cultivated the " Clover 

 Hill Seedling," and we hear, have extended it freely in their neighbor- 

 hoods ; it has also traveled to, and taken root, in New Haven (not 

 exactly Phoenix-like, rising from its own ashes), and in New York, and 

 already the rare fruit has more than once given unexpected pleasure to 

 the sick and suffering. Poor little Harriet, an angel of patience and 

 humility, and the victim of a slow consumption, was made happy during 

 the last weeks of her feeble existence, by the enjoyment of these straw- 

 berries, so unexpected in the autumnal months ; when all other food had 

 ceased to be acceptable to her wasted energies, and benevolent fiiends 

 no longer could find other delicacies to tempt her appetite, it was delight- 

 ful to witness the gentle smile with which the good girl would still 



