EUROPEAN STRAWBERRIES. 



and in support of this, I may name Myatt's British Queen, Deptford Pine and others, 

 which in England are hermaphrodites; in this climate they become staminates. Again I 

 shall suppose A, raises a good seedling which he sells out as a perfect or hermaphrodite 

 bloomer, whichever it may be — B purchases, but, to his great disappointment, finds 

 his plants principally to consist of staminates; he now accuses A of having deceived him as 

 to the real character of the strawberry; when the error lays with himself in planting in 

 too quick or warm a soil or situation, where the sudden transition from the cold of winter 

 to the heat of spring is as sudden as it is warm, and hence the cause of the change. 



If soil and situation will cause this change whether more or less, may it not to a conside- 

 rable extent be counteracted — will not tan-bark, so strongly recommended by Mr. Downing 

 as a fertilizer, mulcher, and protection against cold, prove invaluable as a mulchcr in early 

 spring — the transition time from winter to spring — keeping the ground cool under the 

 bright beams of a burning sun, allowing the plants to progress more slowly and surely in 

 the formation of the various parts of fructification. Many other ways equally effectual 

 in attaining this desirable end, will suggest themselves to the practical and scientific cul- 

 tivator. 



With this preliminary I proceed to my practical notes on the leading European varie- 

 ties: 



1. jihc.rdecn Beehive. — This variety was sent out some two or three years back by a 

 nurseryman near Aberdeen, as an extraordinary new strawberry, for which he modestly 

 charged about 37^ cents, a plant; ten plants came into my hands direct from this worthy 

 man, through the post. I had them planted in a well prepared piece of ground, expecting 

 with the returning season to have my eyes dazzled and palate pleased, with the size, beau- 

 ty, and flavor of this redoubtable variet}^. Imagine my surprise, when instead of some- 

 thing new and magnificent, I had the " old Grove-end Scarlet," for such it proved to be! 

 Some may suppose there had been an error here, but there M'as nothing of the sort; every 

 purchaser fared alike— all were deceived — they paid high for the " Old Grove-end Scarlet." 



2. Black Prince, ( CathiWs.) — Sent out by Cuthill of Camberwell, London, three 

 years ago; he described it as "a fruit of medium size, very dark colored, well flavoied, 

 and a first-rate sort for preserving." Other growers in England considered it as too acid; 

 after growing it two years and giving it a fair trial, I have come to the following conclu- 

 sions: 1st. It is the earliest of all strawberries. 2d. It is a prodigious bearer. 3d. If 

 divested of its bloom in spring, it will bear a pretty good crop in the autumn. 4th. Fruit 

 of medium size, long conical, dark colored; flavor, in dull, cloudy, or wet weather, very 

 acid, but in hot dry weather, middling. 5th. It is an admirable forcer, bearing abundant 

 crops in pots. This variety deserves a trial in this country, it being very early and pro- 

 ductive; the bright light and heat of this fine climate may improve its flavor. This is not 

 the old Black Prince of the American nurseries, highly spoken of in Mr. Downinf's 

 Fruits, as a variety of first rate quality; the latter variety was sent out from England 

 or at least one under this name, about 12 years ago, but it is now nearly, if not quite gone 

 out of cultivation there, (England.) If my memory is correct it was a fruit of good size, 

 round and verjj^ dark color; high flavor. 



3. Carolina, Bath Scarlet or Old Pine. — Of late this fine old fruit is not much cul- 

 tivated in England, British Queen and similar varieties having displaced it; still there are 

 those who will not discard their old favorite; it is of the richest flavor, a moderate bearer, 

 and requires the best of culture. 



Coles' Prolific— RMSQdi by Coles of Wellow, near Bath, England. It is "in the 

 of Keen's Seedling and Princess Alice Maud, most probably raised from this paren- 



