THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 305 



berries well, tbey should be grown on an exposed quarter of ground, 

 well trenched and manured, and not on those little narrow wall- 

 borders, which often neither present surface nor subsoil suffi- 

 cient for a fair test to be taken ; and yet we often hear both amateurs 

 and gardeners, upon the f:\ith of incomplete, partial, and therefore 

 anything but satisfactory evidence, calling: out loudly either for this 

 or against that sort. No plant repays first-rate cultivation better 

 than the strawberry ; and if any of our readers doubt it, pray, first 

 opportunity, ask any of the great market gardeners around London, 

 and they will tell them of the advantage of deep tillage and good 

 manure. 



All thinp^s considered, we must still give place to two of our oldest 

 favourites, Keen's Seedling and British Queen. The former is in- 

 valuable as a grower, a bearer, and a general fruit for the great list 

 of those who possess cottage and villa gardens. The latter is a little 

 more tender, requires a good climate, and, if it can be had, a better 

 loamy soil, incorporated with grit. If that be come-at-able, it is a 

 noble sort, having all the qualities to be desired in this kind of fruit 

 but colour. Under the best culture it is deficient in this point, and 

 although it now has a few rivals, such, for example, as John Powell 

 and Crimson Queen, we would not displace it from its high position. 

 In some localities this latter may be had equal in flavour to British 

 Queen, but not generally so ; it undoubtedly is its equal in size, and 

 its superior in point of colour. 



President is a noble fruit, fine in form, excellent in colour, very 

 free and hardy, and will always rank high in point of appearance. 

 It does not possess the flavour of Oscar or Sir Harry, but it is one, 

 notwithstanding, that ought to be generally grown. Sir Harrj has 

 been much abused, and Mr. Underhill, if he sent out a spurious 

 variety along with it, has something to answer for. The true variety 

 is of very hardy constitution, withstanding the cold of May better 

 than most of its compeers, and is a good average cropper, with ber- 

 ries of full average size and of very good flavour. The Lady has 

 not been sufiiciently tried, but we doubt, from our experience of it, 

 if it is a match for Sir Harry. Marguerite is a very desirable sort — 

 a very excellent forcer, and a good, free bearer — when dished looks 

 tempting, and when tried is not disappointing to even critical palates. 

 Sir Joseph Paxton is also first-rate, somewhat after the character of 

 President, but not so large. Dr. Hogg is very much allied to Crim- 

 son Queen, possessing a most excellent flavour. If there be a suffi- 

 cient distinction, which another year's growth will sufficiently prove, 

 it will be one of the best of modern introductions. La Constanta 

 comes generally good, is a very late sort, and yet ofi'ers to be a good 

 forcer. Its habit is one of the best, and might be looked upon as a 

 model in that respect, being bushy and dwarf, yielding large, fine- 

 coloured, and finely-formed fruit in abundance. In some of the 

 colder localities the bloom was partially destroyed under the influence 

 of a by no means auspicious spring and opening summer; but we 

 look upon this in an ordinary season with great confidence. 



As a preserving strawberry. Black Prince has been often used ; 

 but we have now a tar better one in Ingram's Prince of Wales. It 



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