1869.] STRAWBERRIES IN 1869. 177 



STRAWBERRIES IN 1869. 

 HOUGH the seasons of 1868 and 1869 have been very fertile in general 

 experiences for the Gardening fraternity, yet, perhaps, in no other instance 

 have the constantly varying changes of temperature produced so marked 

 an effect as in the case of the Strawberry. It will be remembered that 

 the season of "1868 was a very short one, owing to the fact that as soon as the 

 strawberries began to ripen the temperature rose to such a degree as to be almost 

 tropical. The consequence of this was that all the late fruits were literally 

 roasted into colour long before they had attained maturity ; and owing to the 

 long drought with which this extreme heat was accompanied, the plants were 

 forced into a prematurely dormant state just at the time when they ought to 

 have been making their best growth for another year's fruit. In fact, they did 

 not commence to make growth until the rain came in the autumn, and though 

 their progress then was rapid enough, yet the season was too far advanced for 

 them to make well-ripened crowns for another year. Another result of the pre- 

 mature state of rest to which they were brought was that a great many of them 

 started their blooming crowns in the autumn, so that this season quite a large 

 per-centage of the plants have proved quite barren, while in no case could I per- 

 ceive that there was evidence of a chance for a full crop. And although, from the 

 long-continued low temperature which has prevailed through the spring, the 

 blooming season was retarded by three weeks, still they were not safe, for no 

 sooner were they in full bloom than a frost of seven degrees laid them low, 

 blackening every exposed bloom, so that a good half of only a moderate 

 crop was destroyed, and those only remained which were well protected by the 

 foliage. 



From these circumstances, the value of many sorts which possess the 

 valuable property of bearing short footstalks and of blooming under the foliage has 

 been greatly enhanced in such a season as this. One of the sorts which 

 possesses this property in the highest degree is Eivers' Eliza. Under any 

 circumstances of season, I consider it one of the most valuable strawberries that 

 a gardener can grow, for it is eminently prolific, of a fine bright colour, with 

 good flavour, and large enough for most purposes. Next to this for usefulness, I 

 rank the President, a most excellent sort for general use ; then Victoria and Sir 

 Charles Napier ; and in good years, Eeeve's Eclipse, which, however, this year 

 fails completely. These are what I call my stock varieties. Gardeners are so 

 often called upon for dishes upon dishes of strawberries, for purposes for which 

 they would not like to disturb the finer dessert varieties, such as Dr. Hogg, Mr. 

 Radclyffe, the Queen, and such-like kinds, that it is absolutely necessary to keep 

 up a stock of the older varieties, which, although they may not come up to 

 exhibition-point, will, during the season, afford a very regular supply of very 

 fair fruit for all ordinary purposes. In the present season they are my mainstay, 



