22 THE STRAWBERRY CULTUHIST. 



only occasionally that we can detect the peculiar and dig- 

 tinct characteristics of either species in the common cul- 

 tivated varieties. 



In the old Triomphe de Gand Strawberry we have a 

 pure descendant of the Chilian species, and in the Wil- 

 son's Albany and Charles Downing, pure native blood. 

 The Wilson may be considered as a large representative of 

 the Wild Strawberry of the Eastern States, and the Down- 

 ing of the Western or of F. Virginiana var. Illinoensis. 

 The varieties of our native species usually have long 

 thread-like or wiry roots, which penetrate the soil deeply 

 and spread widely in search of nutriment and moisture, 

 while the roots of the pure Chilian varieties appear to be 

 more fleshy, shorter and not so hard and firm. 



Another peculiarity in the form and structure may 

 be observed by an examination of the old and mature 

 plants. In our native varieties, like the Downing and 

 Boston Pine, they appear to remain low down in the soil 

 not inclined to push above the surface dividing nat- 

 urally, as shown in Fig. 6, while the Chilian varieties as- 

 sume the form shown in Fig. 7, which is an exact represen- 

 tation half natural size of a three year old plant of the 

 Triomphe de Gand. It will be observed, by examining 

 the illustration, that all of the crowns are united to the 

 main or central one, with little inclination to separate 

 from it. These elevated crowns contain the embryo 

 fruit-buds, and the more they extend above the surface 

 of the soil the more likely they are to be injured by the 

 frosts of winter. 



Varieties of this form of root or crown soon extend so 

 far above the surface that their new roots cannot, or at 

 least do not, take a firm hold of the soil in sufficient num- 

 bers to supply the plant with nutriment. 



There are many excellent varieties in cultivation that 



