NOTICE OF A VISIT TO PITMASTON. 233 



Mr. Knight fortunately obtained bj^ crossing the Old Black with 

 a Scarlet. Many attempts have been made by Mr. Williams to 

 improve the True Chili, which he accomplished to a considerable 

 extent ; but the original tenderness of the Chili, as regards cold, 

 is not easily overcome. I would here remark, if the digression 

 may be considered pardonable, that the Chili is likewise too 

 woolly and wants the richness and solidity of the Old Pine, a 

 variety not excelled, nor even equalled hitherto, in tliese respects ; 

 therefore it would follow that the Old Pine is the most proper to 

 employ for crossing the Cliili, to gain size and flavour, if the lat- 

 ter has anywhere survived the severe winter of 1837-8. Mr. 

 Williams has an excellent new seedling, which he has named 

 " Vigornia." It has the habit of the pine class of strawberry, 

 and seems robust. 



Forced strawberries are often deficient in flavour, and in the 

 case of those forced very early this cannot be easily remedied, 

 especially where the forcing must be conducted so as to suit vines 

 or other things at the same time. When the season issufticiently 

 advanced, Mr. Williams obtains flavour by ripening off the fruit 

 in the open air. His strawberry plants, prepared for forcing in 

 the usual way, are kept in a cool frame till February ; they are 

 then put into a vinery, where they remain till the fruit begins to 

 change colour. At this stage they are removed to the open air, 

 the pots being placed closely together in front of the vinery. 

 Keens' Seedling was the variety thus treated, and the crop was 

 botli excellent and abundant. The plan may be advantageously 

 adopted for successional crops, for a siipply in May. Syringing 

 strawberries ought to be discontinued when the fruit is ripening 

 off"; but whilst water is necessarily withheld, the plants become 

 a nursery for insects sufficient to stock, for the season, vines or 

 other plants that may be in the same house. The removal of the 

 strawberries at the period alluded to is rendered, even on this 

 account, a desirable proceeding. 



The vinery was found to possess some peculiarities. It is 

 32 feet in length, with upright sashes 3^ feet high in front. 

 The back wall forms a partition between the vinery and a coach- 

 room. This room is 10 feet wide, of the same length as the 

 vinery, and has a warm ceiled roof; but the wall between it and 

 the vinery has openings at top, and also near the ground, for the 

 inter-communication of air between the two compartments. By 

 this arrangement superfluous heat, which must otherwise be dis- 

 sipated in the open air, is economised to a considerable amount. 

 Less fuel is consequently necessary ; and provided that a proper 

 degree of temperature and sufficient ventilation are maintained, 

 the less fire-heat the better for vegetation. When the tempera- 

 ture of the vinery rises above that of the room at back, the heater! 



VOL. rir. R 



