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STRAWBERRIES. Royal Sovereign, the best early variety; Sir 

 Joseph Paxton; President; Waterloo; Laxton. It is important to grow 

 varieties that produce handsome fruit with firm flesh which will 

 not be injured by carriage. 



English horticultural literature is rich in works on the strawberry 

 which, as is well known, occupies a prominent position among the 

 small fruit of Great Britain. 



The English Board of Agriculture has published a book on the 

 best varieties of strawberries, which contains many details that are 

 here quoted. (Walter P. Wright, Modern strawberry growing ; Jour- 

 nal of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, n. 4, Vol. XIV). 



Sir Joseph Paxton. This variety was formerly very extensively 

 cultivated in England; it has since slightly lost ground, though its 

 fruit is still much appreciated by the trade on account of its size, 

 handsome appearance and resistance to injury from carriage. 



Royal Sovereign. Very valuable variety, the most highly ap- 

 preciated by the English public. It was created by crossing the 

 Laxton and Bedford; it is earlier than the Sir Joseph Paxton but 

 it ceases bearing sooner; the fruit is conical, laige-sized, bril- 

 liantly coloured and with a firm flesh. It is not only a good field 

 and garden sort but it is also excellent for forcing. In a great 

 number of cases it has superseded, for pot work, the old 

 favourites such as La grosse sucree, Vicomtesse Hericourt de Thury, 

 President Auguste Nicaise. No other kind of cultivated plant has 

 so soon conquered a position that can be compared to the one 

 occupied by this splendid variety. Still in its prime it will con- 

 tinue for a long time to render eminent services both in market 

 and in private gardens. 



The Laxton. A good variety, early but somewhat less so than 

 the preceding one ; it is prolific and produces large sized and hand- 

 some fruit of very good flavour. 



Bedford Champion. Vigorous variety bearing very large fruit. 

 The Bedford. Very heavy-bearing variety, the result of a cross 

 between Dr Hogg and Sir Charles Napier. 



Fillbasket. Remarkably productive variety, obtained by crossing. 

 Royal Sovereign and Latest of all. Well flavoured fruit, much 

 appreciated; its cultivation is extending considerably. 



Late varieties. In the market gardens of England there is an 

 increasing tendency to lengthen the strawberry season by means 

 of new late varieties, the older ones being lacking in size and 

 colour. Among these new varieties, the most noticeable are: Lax- 



