THE DOWNTON STRAWBERRY. 



Downton. Hort. Soc. Trans, vol. Hi. p. 396. Jig. 15. ; vol. iv. 

 p. 197. ; vol vi.p. 185. Hort. Soc. Fruit Cat. p. 56. 



An excellent, and now well-established Straw- 

 berry. It was raised in 1817 by Mr. Knight, the 

 President of the Horticultural Society, in whose 

 Transactions it has been amply described, and well 

 figured. 



It is the produce of artificial impregnation, the 

 female parent being a large Scarlet Strawberry, 

 now considered of little merit, and the male parent 

 the old Black Strawberry, which kind, though pos- 

 sessing very superior flavour, is but little cultivated, 

 because, excepting in few places, it neither thrives 

 nor bears well. 



This new kind is an abundant bearer, and its 

 berries possess a highly aromatic flavour, derived 

 from the variety from the pollen of which it origin- 

 ated. Some of the early berries are cock's-comb- 

 shaped, but those of the general crop are ovate, 

 having a neck. It comes into bearing rather late ; 

 and to be eaten in perfection, should be suffered to 

 be fully ripened. From the period of its maturity, 

 it is valuable, for the kinds most in use have then 

 ceased to be produced. As a preserve it is excel- 

 lent, whether reduced to jam or kept entire. 



