THE STRAWBERRY. 269 



keep the atmosphere of the house well charged with 

 moisture, in order to keep down the Red Spider, the in- 

 sect which is quickly destructive to both Strawberries 

 and Cucumbers. 



The kinds of Strawberries which seem to have been the 

 favorites for forcing are the Champion, a rather dark 

 crimson berry of great beauty and of the largest size, 

 with occasional trials of Jersey Queen, on account of the 

 great size and beauty of the fruit. But the new variety 

 Crimson Cluster, from trials made with it, is likely to 

 prove the most valuable variety for forcing purposes. It 

 is of the largest size, of beautiful form ; color, a rich 

 shade of scarlet crimson, the surface looking as if var- 

 nished. These peculiarities make it specially attractive, 

 a necessity for forced Strawberries when retailed at about 

 fifty cents a berry; for in the winter months, it must bo 

 remembered, they sell at wholesale at six dollars per 

 quart, and it takes only eighteen to twenty large berries 

 to make a quart. 



To our rural readers this extraordinary price paid for 

 fruit may seem incredible ; but all large cities contain 

 people who are rich enough to afford these prices, not 

 only for fruits, but for flowers, for it is no unusual thing 

 for one dollar and even two dollars to be paid for single 

 rosebuds of the rarer or finer sorts. At the same date 

 that forced Strawberries are selling in New York at six 

 dollars per quart, or forced Cucumbers at six dollars per 

 dozen, both Strawberries and Cucumbers grown in the 

 Southern States are selling at one-sixth these prices ; but 

 the quality, of course, bears no comparison with the 

 forced commodities. Besides its value as a fruit, as a 

 beautiful feature in the forcing house nothing exceeds 

 the Strawberry when fully ripe. A few dozen plants will 

 fill the house with their delightful aroma. 



