Strawberries Origin and History 



to 



Indian Strawberry (Fragaria Indica). 



? equator. " It is a large, robust species, 

 with very firm, thick leaflets, soft and 

 silky on the under side." The flowers are 

 larger than in the other species ; the fruit, also, in 

 its native condition, averages much larger, stands 

 erect instead of hanging, ripens late, is rose- 

 colored, firm and sweet in flesh, and does not 

 require as much heat to develop its saccharine 

 constituents ; but it lacks the peculiar sprightliness and aroma 

 of the Virginia strawberry. It has become, however, the favorite stock of 

 the European gardeners, and seems better adapted to transatlantic 

 climate and soil than to ours. The first mention of the Fragaria Ckilensis, 

 or South American strawberry, says Mr. Fuller, " is by M. Frezier, who, 

 in 1716, in his journey to the South Sea, found it at the foot of the 

 Cordillera mountains near Quito, and carried it home to Marseilles, 

 France." At that time it was called the Chili strawberry, and the 

 Spaniards said that they brought it from Mexico. 



From Mr. W. Collett Sandars, an English antiquarian, I learn that seven 

 plants were shipped from Chili and were kept alive during the voyage by 

 water which M. Frezier saved 

 from his allowance, much limited 

 owing to a shortness of supply. 

 He gave two of the plants to M. 

 de Jessieu, " who cultivated them 

 with fair success in the royal gar- 

 dens." In 1727, the Chili straw- 

 berry was introduced to England, 

 but not being understood, it did 

 not win much favor. 



Mr. Fuller further states : "We 



Fragaria Chilensis. 



do not learn from any of the old French works that new varieties were 

 raised from the Chili strawberry for at least fifty years after its introduc- 

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