:'T2 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



facilities for making observations upon the wood and leaves, 

 are also greater; and, as regards appearance alone, they 

 are, when well managed, far more beautiful than standard*. 

 To those who wish to plant out large quantities for orchard 

 cultivation, they would not, of course, be recommended; 

 but for the garden, the pyramidal form should be 

 dopted. 91 



ALPINE STRAWBERRY. This variety is especially valu- 

 able from its propensity to bear all the summer. At the 

 gardens of the Luxembourg, Paris, Mr. Hovey says : 



" The Alpine strawberry is cultivated very extensively 

 for the supply of the royal tables throughout the whole 

 summer and autumn, and one-quarter was devoted to this 

 fruit ; the plants were set out in long rows, with alternate 

 plantations of dahlias, which were now in most profuse 

 bloom ; a great many of them were the fancy sorts, which 

 are greatly admired and extensively cultivated in and 

 around Paris. One of the finest we saw was the Bc-auty 

 of England, purple tipped with white ; and every flower 

 distinctly marked. The strawberries are set out in August 

 or September, and the following season produce abundantly; 

 or they may be raised from seed in the spring, and planted 

 out to bear a crop in the autumn. A moist soil and half 

 shady aspect is most favorable, and, in our climate, to 

 expect success, such a locality should be selected if possible ; 

 an abundance of fruit may then be expected. The best 

 berries were as large as the finest Woods we generally see 

 in our market. We recommend all who love this delicious 

 fruit to try the experiment of their cultivation. Such pro- 

 fusion as we saw them exposed for sale in the cafes of Paris, 

 shows that there can be no great difficulty in the way of 

 success." 



