664 THE STRAWBERRY. 



ing shrubs, of remarkably luxuriant growth, which may be train- 

 ed for agieat length in a season, and are admirably adapted for 

 covering walls and unsightly buildings. The flowers are like 

 small double roses, and are produced in numerous clusters in 

 June, having a very pretty effect. North of New York these 

 climbers are rather tender in severe winters. 



The ROSE FLOWERING BRAMBLE (Rubus odoratus) is a very 

 pretty native shrub, with large broad leaves, and pleasing rose- 

 coloured flowers, and groups well with other shrubs in ornamen- 

 tal plantations. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE STRAWBERRY. 



Fragaria (of species) L. Rosacea, of botanists. 



Prosier, of the French; Erdbeerpflanze, German; Aadbezie, Dutch; Pianta 

 di Fragola, Italian; and Fresa, Spanish. 



THE Strawberry is the most delicious and the most whole- 

 some of all berries, and the most universally cultivated in all 

 gardens of northern climates. It is a native of the temperate 

 latitudes of both hemispheres, of Europe, Asia, North arid 

 South America ; though the species found in different parts of 

 the world are of distinct habit, and have each given rise, through 

 cultivation, to different classes of fruit scarlet strawberries, pine 

 strawberries, wood strawberries, hautbois, &c. 



The name of this fruit is popularly understood to have arisen 

 from the common and ancient practice of laying straw between 

 the plants to keep the fruit clean. In the olden times, the vari- 

 ety of strawberries was very limited, and the garden was chiefly 

 supplied with material for new plantations from the woods. 

 Old Tusser, in his " Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry," 

 points out where the best plants of his time were to be had, and 

 turns them over with an abrupt, farmer-like contempt of little 

 matters, to feminine hands : 



" Wife, into the garden, and set me a plot, 

 With strawberry roots, of the best to be got ; 

 Such growing abroad, among thorns in the wood, 

 Well chosen and picked, prove excellent good." 



The strawberry belongs properly to cold climates, and though 

 well known, is of comparatively little value in the south of 

 Europe. Old Roman and Greek poets have not, therefore, sung 

 its praises ; but after that line of a northern bard, 



"A dish of ripe strawberries, smothered in cream," 



