Notes and Gleanings, 35 



paratively, if not entirely, exempt. The winters there are, it is true, often cold, 

 disagreeably cold ; but it is not the excessive cold of the north-eastern parts of 

 the United States. The mercury, probably, rarely if ever falls to zero of Fahren- 

 heit. The ground freezes to the deptli of some inches, ice forms of four or five 

 inches in thickness, and that is all ; while even this degree of cold is not of lon^^ 

 continuance, and, when once passed, rarely again occurs. By February, the per- 

 sistent signs of approaching spring make themselves manifest. The summer is 

 frequently hot. A rise of the mercury to 80° and upwards is not unusual ; but 

 it is not the dry, burning heat experienced in Massachusetts : and although 

 the average rain-fall for the year is much less, yet the atmosphere in Europe is 

 moister ; and, the rains that fall being more equally diffused through the year, 

 the evil effects of heat, accompanied with long-continued drought, are in a great 

 measure, if not wholly, escaped. Cultivators in Europe, no more than else- 

 where, are wholly exempt from loss and damage arising from injuries to their 

 trees and plants, but not to injuries caused by the severity of the climate ; the 

 climate being, as it seems to me, although not always free from unfavorable con- 

 ditions, well adapted to the cultivation of hardy plants : in some portions, of 

 course, of its territory, as above defined, more so than in others ; in France, 

 rather than in England. 



Now, if it be true that climate is an essential element to successful cultiva- 

 tion, and if I am right in my appreciation of that of Europe and of the north- 

 eastern part of the United States, the inference is irresistible, that the different 

 kinds of hardy fruits can be cultivated with more success, and brought to greater 

 perfection, in those parts of Europe to which these remarks refer, than ii. the 

 north-eastern parts of America. 



And this view is, to my mind, confirmed by a comparison of the fruits of the 

 two regions under consideration. In making this comparison. I have necessa- 

 rily been compelled to compare the fruits of Europe with my recollection of 

 those of America, as it was impossible to brtng them side by side (a far more 

 satisfactory way) ; taking those of the same kinds, and, when I could, of the same 

 varieties ; using for the purpose such as are offered for sale by the quantity in 

 the market, and not, in either case, specimens culled for e.xhibition at horti- 

 cultural shows or the windows of the fruit-shops. And I give the results of 

 such comparison to be taken for what it may be considered worth ; in most 

 instances, the fruits taken being those grown in France, and found in the Paris 

 markets. 



I spent the strawberry-season of 1867 in England, — partly in London, ?.nd 

 partly in the provinces ; and was daily in the habit of eating this fruit, find- 

 ing them everywhere large, handsome, and high-flavored, superior in all respects 

 to strawberries such as I had seen on sale in the Boston market. On any dav 

 during the season, I could have purchased in Covent-garden Market a consid- 

 erable quantity, at a reasonable price, — strawberries that for size, beauty, md 

 flavor, if placed on exhibition at your Horticultural Society, would, if they did 

 not take the prize, have certainly been powerful competitors for it with those 

 that did : and, although it was contrary to my previous impressions, I was 

 brought to the conclusion, that in England, at least, strawberries were better 



