418 



THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



many of them of superior size, flavor, and beauty, but none 

 that unites all the qualities that make a perfect berry, until 

 I originated this new Hautbois. This berry was produced 

 by crossing the Ross's Phcenix with a wild strawberry of Ala- 

 bama. The engraving can convey but a very imperfect out- 

 line of the beauty of the fruit. 



The vine grows enormously large, (I have single plants 

 that cannot be covered with a half bushel measure.) The 

 fruit is borne upon tall, erect footstalks, suspended on stems 

 from three to five inches long. Fruit of the largest size, often 

 measuring seven inches in circumference, of a peculiar and 

 beautiful form, with a somewhat irregular surface, flesh firm, 

 sweet, melting, and juicy, of the most exquisite pine apple 

 flavor. The fruit next the calyx is without seeds, and pre- 

 sents the appearance of polished coral. When fully ripe, the 

 color is a rich deep crimson. 



The vine is a vigorous, hardy grower, bearing with im- 

 punity great degrees of heat and cold, beginning to bloom as 

 soon in the winter as the mild weather can start the blos- 

 soms, and contiiuies to bloom until the settled weather of 

 spring can perfect the fruit. It is a capital plant for the 

 greenhouse, for by protecting it from frost, it will fruit in 

 winter. The plant is hermaphrodite in character, and for one 

 of that class, a most prolific bearer. 



It is often remarked by amateurs that have seen it growing 

 in my grounds, that if the fruit was not edible, it would be 

 worth a place in any gentleman's grounds for the wonderful 

 beauty of the plant when in fruit. But its remarkable size, 

 beauty, and exquisite flavor is not all its recommendation; it 

 bears transportation and preserves its flavor better than any 

 strawberry ever introduced. As proof of this, on the morn- 

 ing of the 9th of May last, I picked a case of these berries, 

 carried them to Columbus, six miles, in my buggy, sent them 

 from Columbus to Savannah, three hundred miles by railroad, 

 from thence to New York, eight hundred miles by steamer, 

 to Messrs J. M. Thorburn & Co. 



The following is an extract from a letter from the Messrs. 

 Thorburn, acknowledging the reception of the berries : — 



