348 STRAWBERRY. 



from seed, from which finer fruit may be produced than 

 from offsets. The other species are uniformly propagated 

 by offsets, except the intention be to try for new varieties. 

 The Alpine and Wood species may.be planted in situations 

 rather cool and'shady, in order that they may produce their 

 fruit late in the season, which is desirable. The Strawberry, 

 with a little trouble of choosing a succession of sorts, may 

 be forced so as to be had at the dessert every month in the 

 year ; though, during the Winter months, they have not 

 much flavour. 



Some gardeners lay straw an inch or two thick over their 

 beds in March, and set fire to it, in order to promote a 

 stocky growth of plants and early fruit ; others reccommend 

 mowing off the tops of such as are not required to fruit early, 

 while they are in blossom, with a view to obtain a crop of 

 Strawberries late in the season. 



The London Horticultural Catalogue contains the names 

 of one hundred and twenty-one varieties of all the species ; 

 which are classed according to their nature, colour, &c. 

 Class 1. Scarlet Strawberries ; 2. Black Strawberries; 3. 

 Pine Strawberries; 4. Chili Strawberries; 6. Hauibois 

 Strawberries ; 6. Green Strawberries ; 7. Alpine and Wood 

 Strawberries. To select all the most esteemed from this, 

 or any other extensive catalogue, is a difficult task ; the 

 following description of species and varieties may serve to 

 direct the choice : 



The Wood Strawberry, Fragaria vesea. with oval serrated leaves : the 

 fruit red, white, and green, which is round and small. A native of 

 Britain. 



The Scarlet, Fragaria Virginiana, with leaves like the preceding : the 

 fruit roundish and scarlet-coloured. A native of Virginia. Varieties 

 Methven Scarlet, Knight's Scarlet, Austrian Scarlet, Early Scarlet, Wil- 

 mot's late, Common late, Wilmot's Early Scarlet, &c. 



The Roseberry, Fragaria Virg. var. An Aberdeen seedling, intro- 

 duced in 1810. The plants have few roundish leaves, larger fruit than 

 the scarlet, and are very prolific : continues bearing till August. 



The Black var. Downton, Dark Scarlet Strawberry, originated by Mr, 

 Knight. The fruit is large, irregular, and cockscomb-like: plant hardy 

 and prolific. 



The Carolina, Fragaria Carolinensis, colour dark red: a native for 



