MAY. 113 



THE FRUIT J ST. 



The British-Queen Strawberry under Glass. This most 

 undoubtedly finest of all strawberries — and indeed, in my opinion, 

 finest of all known fruits of English growth — is but seldom tasted in 

 full perfection. Owing to an uncertain climate, it requires protection 

 from the accidents of " flood and field" to have all its peculiarly deli- 

 cate, yet rich, flavour fully preserved; and glass alone can do this — 

 not to force it, but fully to mature its fruit. The following simple 

 method will give results all that can be wished for. As soon as the 

 runners are long enough — and this will be by the middle of June or 

 beginning of July — take them, and place one on the centre of a pot 

 filled with mould. Employ as many pots as you please ; but, mind, 

 there must be only one plant to a pot, and that in the centre. A 

 small stone placed on the joint of the runner will keep it in its place. 

 Water daily in dry weather, and the runners will soon fill the pots 

 with roots, and be in a tit state to be separated from their mothers 

 in August. And now as to the mode of filling the pots, and com- 

 post. Take 6-inch or S-inch pots — the latter the better, if you wish 

 for very strong plants ; place two or three large pieces of broken pots 

 at the bottom; then mix your compost two-thirds loam — not too 

 light and sandy — and one-third rotten manure; put in a handful of 

 it, and pound it with a wooden pestle, and so keep on a handful and 

 a pounding till your pot is full of well-compressed compost as hard 

 as a barn-floor. As a severe winter often injures the young plants 

 of this Strawberry, it is by far the best method to plunge the ])ots in 

 coal-ashes or old tan, in a garden-frame, or any where under glass, 

 giving them abundance of air at all times, unless the frost is very 

 severe. In February remove them to a shelf near the glass, in a 

 greenhouse or vinery where no fire-heat is employed. Let them 

 have plenty of air, and only the assistance of glass to rii)en them ; 

 they will come in only a few days before those in the open air, and 

 be all that can be wished for in size and flavour. A common garden- 

 frame will ripen them as well as a vinery or greenhouse ; in fact, any 

 glass structure will do, for all they require is to be near the glass, and 

 to have abundance of air. T. R. 



NATIONAL FLOIUCULTURAL SOCIETY. 



March 27. Mr. Arthur Henderson in the chair. At this, the 

 first general meeting, the minutes of the preliminary one were read 

 and signed, and such other arrangements as were considered neces- 

 sary to commence the business of the Society on April 3d, were com- 

 pleted. In addition to the fifty-four members already enrolled, the 

 names of forty-four new candidates for election were proposed. 



April 3. Mr. Veitch, jun., in the chair. Forty-four members 

 were elected on this occasion ; and the names of forty-eight more 



NEW series, vol. I. NO. V. L 



