JANUARY. / 



less favourable conditions. Being rather a late Strawberry, it does 

 not answer well for early forcing ; but when grown in pots, and 

 slightly forwarded in heat, the fruit comes in very conveniently 

 between the latest forced crop and the earliest from the open 

 ground. This Strawberry was raised by Mr. Myatt of Dei)tford, — 

 a gentleman who has done more to improve the race of large Straw- 

 berries than any other person. Similar in colour and in flavour, and 

 of a better shape, is Myatt's Globe ; but being a shy bearer, it will 

 never become a general favourite. 



4. Myatfs Eliza is another of those pale-coloured peculiarly- 

 flavoured Strawberries obtained from seed by the same fortunate 

 cultivator. Had there been no other of its class, this would have 

 obtained considerable celebrity ; but coming into competition with 

 the British Queen, to which it is inferior both in size and flavour, 

 it never became a general favourite, and is now not so much grown 

 as it deserves to be. It is not so good a bearer as Nos. 1 and 2. 



5. Old Pine. Called also the Carolina Strawberry by some. 

 One of the oldest, and at the same time one of the best kinds in 

 cultivation, although now seldom seen in gentlemen's gardens, larger 

 and more showy sorts having unworthily usurped its place. To my 

 taste, no Strawberry excels this in flavour when thoroughly ripe ; and 

 if grown in good loamy ground, the plants bear plentifully, and the 

 fruit attains a respectable size. Treated in the manner before re- 

 commended for the British Queen, by which its good qualities would 

 be fairly developed, the Old Pine would again become a favourite, 

 especially with those who grow fruit to be eaten rather than to be 

 looked at. It ripens about the same time as, or a* little later than, 

 the British Queen, and with that kind makes a good succession to 

 Nos. 1 and 2. 



6. Comte de Paris. This variety was originated in France, along 

 with (I believe) another, called Princess Royal, which has a good 

 reputation, but is unknown to me. The Count, at any rate, is well 

 worth growing, on account of its large size, handsome form, bright 

 colour, and shining aspect, although in flavour inferior to many of 

 home origin. Another desirable property is the length of its fruit- 

 stalks, by which the fruit is prevented from lying flat on the ground. 

 It ripens about the same time as the British Queen. 



7. Elton. On account of its great size and late period of ripen- 

 ing, this Strawberry is most extensively grown for the supply of the 

 London markets ; and the same qualities entitle it to a place in 

 private gardens, although the too great acidity of its juice makes 

 it unpalatable to many persons. To remedy that defect as far as 

 possible, the plants should be allowed plenty of room, and the fruit 

 must not be gathered till it has acquired nearly a black colour. Its 

 season might be prolonged to the beginning of August, by making 

 a plantation on a north border. This sort has been recommended 

 for preserving ; but housekeepers (the great authority in such mat- 

 ters) say that its dark colour unfits it for that purpose, as no care 

 or skill can prevent the jam from looking dull and treacly. The 

 Elton is the only one of the many varieties raised by Mr. T. A. 



