THE STRAWBERRY-TREE. 



275 



century. The country people in this neighbourhood eat the 

 fruit, and Babington, whose judgment as a botanist ought 

 to carry weight, pronounces it excellent. English berries, 

 when thoroughly ripe, are of a mealy consistence, and of a 

 somewhat insipid flavour, not unlike that of the haw. At 



Smyrna and Padua it is exposed for sale in the markets ; 

 and the fruit which it produces near Miletus, in Asia 

 Minor, is said to resemble a strawberry, both in size and 

 flavour. It is very probable, therefore, that, when growing 

 under certain conditions, the fruit improves in quality ; 



