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STRAWBERRY-PLANT. FRAGARTA. 



Natural order, Senticosa. A genus of the Icosandria 

 Polygynia class. 



" The blushing strawberry 



Which lurks, close shrouded from high-looking eyes, 

 Shewing that sweetness low and hidden lies." 



THE Latins named this fruit Fragaria, from its fra- 

 grance. It was also called Morum terrestre, ground mul- 

 berry, from the similarity in the form of the fruit. 



The late Sir J. Banks concludes, that their English 

 name was derived from the practice of putting straw 

 under them when the fruit began to swell, as the plant has 

 no relation to straw in any other way, and no other 

 European language applies the idea of straw in any other 

 shape to the name of the berry, or to the plant. 



But as we find not only the oldest, but all the English 

 writers call it by the same name, we are of opinion that 

 it had this appellation prior to its being cultivated in 

 our gardens, and, that the name of strawberry originated 

 from the old practice of threading these berries on straws 

 of grass, in which shape they were brought from the 

 woods. It is still practised by children in many country 

 places where the wild strawberry abounds, who offer you 

 the fruit, so many straws of berries for a penny. 



