1 87 1.] STRAWBERRIES. 469 



do with this matter; although, no doubt, the kind of Strawberries grown 

 exerts also a powerful influence, as has already been remarked by- 

 able writers in the * Gardener ' of the present year. Keen's Seed- 

 ling, although a first-rate Strawberry generally, has proved itself to be 

 much short of the mark in some places, as it has with us this year, for 

 we have not had a single good fruit of it. Comparing this state of 

 matters with what I knew some years ago with the same kind, it may 

 be considered as something astonishing; for on the same piece of 

 ground that my father so successfully grew his Hollyhocks, in the 

 neighbourhood of Edinburgh, some years ago, and which some of your 

 readers may still remember, was a good patch of Keen's Seedling 

 Strawberry, which produced good crops of fruit for about ten years in 

 succession, to my knowledge. The plants had no more done to them 

 than keeping them clean — taking off the rough of the runners in the 

 autumn, and in winter spreading a thick covering of half-rotten manure 

 all over the ground, over the crowns as v/ell as between the rows. 

 The difference between these two examples (similar ones to which many 

 no doubt already know) just shows the difficulties that gardeners some- 

 times have to try to overcome in different places ; and to get over this 

 difficulty, it would, I venture to state, be a good plan for every gar- 

 dener who can, to try to prove a lot of different kinds of Strawberries, 

 himself selecting the best, without relying too much at first upon 

 popular recommendations. Not willing to do away with Keen's Seed- 

 ling altogether this year for forcing, as I have been told it has done 

 well here, I have given it a fair trial as one of our main kinds ; and to 

 make surer of success, I got some marl from a little distance to mix 

 along with the soil for potting, our loam here being apparently rather 

 too open. I hope that I have not been wrong in this little speculation. 

 We have about a quarter of an acre of ground under Strawberries, 

 and, as a whole, few could look better as far as health is concerned; for 

 the foliage looks well, the plants are strong and fully developed, but 

 they are without that hard " bone " in them that is apparently necessary 

 to insure fertility. We have about a dozen kinds, and enough of 

 theise to form some idea of their individual merits. I will tabulate 

 the notes I made a few weeks ago, so that you may see at a glance 

 the respective merits of each, giving the most productive place in the 

 order mentioned. 



Black Prince. — A good crop, and the best in every respect we have had. 

 President. — Nearly an average crop. 



Triomphe de Paris. — Had a good show of blossoms, but these mostly imper- 

 fect, and only a very few good fruit. 

 British Queen. — Very few good fruit. 



Sir Joseph Paxton. — Only a few fruit, some of which were large-sized. 

 Her Majesty, Adair, Empress Eugenie, Admiral Dundas, Dr Hogg, Keen's 

 Seedling. — Almost all worthless. 



