462 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



Laxtoris Latest: a fine late Strawberry of large size and good 



flavour. 

 Countess: a handsome, conical-shaped, deep crimson fruit, of 



first-rate flavour, and good constitution. 



Waterloo: this is a valuable variety, and is almost the last to 

 ripen. The fruits are large, very dark red in colour (some 

 are almost black, when fully ripe), and of a fine flavour. 

 Other Good Varieties. 



Latest of All: a very late Strawberry of exquisite flavour. 

 Aromatic : a fine large fruit with an aromatic flavour. The plant 



bears abundantly, and is well worth growing. 

 Bicton Pine is a white-fruited variety of distinct flavour, and bears 



well. 



James Veitch : large, handsome fruit, red, of good flavour. 

 President: handsome, bright red fruit, well flavoured, good 



bearer. 



Varieties for Pot Culture. The best for forcing are undoubtedly 

 Royal Sovereign and La Grosse Sucree. The former is the one for 

 a very early supply. James Veitch and Sir Charles Napier (a pale 

 scarlet fruit of sharp flavour) also force well, and may be tried in 

 addition to the first two named. 



The Gooseberry. The Gooseberry is one of the most service- 

 able of our hardy fruits, especially to the amateur, for the bushes 

 occupy little space, and the fruit has the advantage of being ready for 

 use in a green state as well as when ripe. 



Soil and Situation. If very large Gooseberries, regardless of 

 flavour, are desired, a rich, moist soil and partial shade from the sun 

 are necessary. 



Unless required for exhibition, however, it is better to obtain 

 medium-sized, well-favoured fruits ; a soil that is drier and not so 

 rich, and a situation exposed to the sun, are then desirable. The 

 bushes themselves will afford sufficient shade to each other. It is 

 more convenient when planting Gooseberry bushes to group them 

 together upon one piece of ground, for when the fruits are ripe black- 

 birds, &c., are troublesome, making it necessary to cover the bushes 

 with netting. Such protection is obviously more easily given when 

 the bushes are together than when dotted about here and there. 

 The roots are then also in less danger of suffering from the spade or 

 fork, as might easily happen were the ground immediately around 

 them cropped with vegetables. Where, however, land cannot be 

 devoted solely to a plantation of Gooseberries they may be planted by 

 the side of the garden walk or between Apples and Pears. It should 

 be remembered that their roots are close to the surface of the ground, 

 and if this were dug over with a spade some of the former would be 

 destroyed. Although usually planted upon open ground, Gooseberry 

 bushes may, in order to prolong their season, be trained against a 

 north wall or upon an espalier in a cool position. Unless a few are 

 required very early it is unwise to plant them against a wall facing 



