16 THE FLORIST. 



shape is " obtuse " and " snubby " at the tips, and short of colour on 

 the tips. The way to colour a Strawberry is to tie up the leaves, and 

 let in the sun. The plants came to me in pots like a barrister's 

 wi£. The runners from them are strong, and show no effect of frost. 

 — W. F. R.] Princess Alice Maude is good ; but, here, quite distinct 

 from Keens ; it is of a pale scarlet colour, and conical shape, and a little 

 earlier than Keens [except in foliage, it is exactly like the old Carolina 

 here. — W. F. R.] Of late sorts, Eleanor is by far superior to Elton 

 Pine, in colour and flavour. The former does also very well as a late 

 forcer. Two years old plants give me fruit of astounding size and 

 beauty. Adair is no great things. Madame Vilmorin, of the Chili 

 race, and a seedling from it, is first-rate in flavour. [1 have her, and 

 will report next year. She is M. Gloede's child. — W. F. R.] Of 

 English Strawberries, I advise you to try Sir. C. Napier, Omar Pacha, 

 Filbert Pine, Ruby, Sir W. Scott, C. Superba, Prince of Wales 

 (Stewart and Neilson), Bicton White Pine, Eliza Rivers, Fillbasket, 

 Ladies' Fingers [must be good. — W. F. R.] ; and, on account of its 

 size and beauty, Salter's Jucunda; these will give satisfaction. Permit 

 me now to say a word about others than English Strawberries. Thus 

 far, it seems impossible to get the good English folks to try French and 

 Belgian varieties. Surely they are wrong in pretending that there are 

 no Strawberries good for anything but what are raised in the United 

 Kingdom. My own twelve years' experience has proved the contrary, 

 and my opinion has been confirmed by my good friend, Mr. Nicholson, 

 of Egglescliffe, in Yorkshire, who cultivates with great success some 

 French and Belgian seedlings. It must, therefore, be considered preju- 

 dice, when English growers generally exclude them from their culture. 



Of French sorts I highly recommend the following : — Comte de 

 Paris [my brother gardener likes it much. — W. F. R.], Marquise de 

 Latour Maubourg, Princesse Royale, Cremont (not Perpetual, as stated 

 by some), Belle de Paris, Gelineau, La Chalonaise, Prince Imperial. 

 Belgian : Excellente, Ne Plus Ultra, La Reine, a white sort distinct 

 from the Bicton Pine, and of finer flavour ; Triomphe de Liege, La 

 Delicieuse, La Constante (new). American : Baron, Triumph, and 

 Hovey's Seedling. 



Do you know the Alpine Strawberry without runners — red and 

 white ? They make beautiful borders or edges in a kitchen garden, 

 and fruit throughout the season. I was so happy as to raise a seedling 

 from Sir Harry, without runners, producing large fruit, which will of 

 course be difficult to propagate, but must finally prove a great acquisition. 

 In case you should like to try some of our continental sorts, I shall be 

 happy to place them at your disposal. [I have asked him to send me 

 Bicton White Pine, La Reine, Belle Bordelaise, Hooper's, Hovey's, and 

 Hendrie's Seedlings, Black Hautbois and Viridis (fraise verte), a curi- 

 osity, I trow. I told him ray ideas of a Strawberry were — firm flesh, 

 juicy, sweet, and musky. — W. F. R ] Do you know any one that has 

 got the old black Strawberry, called by some " Mulberry, or Black 

 Canterbury ? " If so, you might render me a service by procuring me 

 some plants. I fear, however, that this old treasure, said to be the 

 finest flavour of all, is lost altogether. [I never heard of it. — W. F. R.] 



