New Varieties of Strawberries. 91 



is perceptible in the foliage, that of the sterile being much 

 more rank and coarse. 



Wilmofs Superb. — This variety, which has excited so 

 much admiration in Europe, treated in the same mode as 

 the Downton (I have, in fact, employed the same method 

 with all the large sorts which I have attempted to cultivate), 

 was abandoned, after the second year; the product being 

 so small as not to warrant farther trial. 



Keeii's Seedling-. — This has succeeded well; it is a good 

 bearer, and of fine flavor ; not quite equal to the Downton, 

 in either point ; but its large, dark rich berries are altogether 

 a beautiful fruit, and it Avell deserves cultivation. 



The last season, an individual at East Cambridge pro- 

 duced an abundant crop, and larger fruit than I have ever 

 before seen of this variety ; whilst other persons, experien- 

 ced cultivators too, have given up this, as Avell as the 

 Dmmiton, after a trial, for want of success. In the cases of 

 failure, there seems to have been one radical error ; that is, 

 the plants have been placed upon strong, rich garden soils, and 

 often somewhat moist : whether such soils are too adhesive 

 to permit the fibres sufficiently to extend themselves ; or the 

 nutriment Avhich the plant absorbs, be unfit to form the 

 basis of fruit, is a matter of mere theory, which is of no 

 importance, so long as the facts which the results exhibit 

 are before us, and which have been, as far as my own 

 observations have extended to such situations, a profusion 

 of foliage, but little or no fruit. 



Methven Castle, or Melhven Scarlet. — This strawberry, more 

 hardy than any of the large kinds, is very prolific ; but the fruit 

 is somewhat spongy in the centre, and it has not the fine fla- 

 vor of some other sorts ; still the magnificent appearance of its 

 enormously large globular berries, renders it a desirable ob- 

 ject of cultivation to a certain extent. The question has 

 often been agitated, as to the comparative merits of thcj^e 

 new large varieties, with some of the older and smaller 

 ones. With all the smaller fruits, size and appearance, cer- 

 tainly Aveigh a great deal in the estimate of their value ; and 

 almost every culti\^ator Avould be desirous of groAving a pro- 

 portion of the fine large sorts ; and, AA'ith proper manage- 

 ment, they Avould unquestionably Avell repay him; still it is 

 not to be denied that they require to be treated with a good 

 deal more care and attention.) than the small ones, to expect 

 success. Of the latter khids, I have made trial of several 

 varieties, among Avhich the 



Early Virginia or Early Scarlet., is a valuable one : it is of 

 fine flavor, produces a fair crop, and as it serves to lengthen 

 out the season of this delicious fruit, it is Avell worthy of cul- 

 tivation, it comes into bearing ten days earlier than any 

 other variety. 



