ROSACE.E. 



117 



The strawberry requires a generous soil of light loaiu to bring it to perfec- 

 tion ; and (luring the ripening season it needs dry, sunny days and warm 

 nights to perfect its aroma and taste. When j)ractical)le, th? fruit should be 

 taken from tlie garden immediately to the tat)l('. 



Use. — The strawberry is a delicious fruit for dessert or for jjreserving. 

 The mode of serving is well expressed in the line : — 



" A dish of ripe strawberries smothered in cream." 



It is not oiilv noted for its delicate fragrance and delightful flavor, liut }ia.s 

 a higli rei)Utation for its healthfulness. It is related that the fatiier of botany, 

 Linna-us, w:is cured of a tit of gout by eating strawberries, wliich, if true, 

 would establisli its sanitary or curative projjerties. 



Marts. — Markets for the strawberry must be local, on account of the 

 perishable character of tlie fruit. 



PRUNTJS, L. (Plum, etc.) Ovary superior. Carpel 1. Style terminal. 

 Ovules 2, pendulous. Drupe l-seeded. Trees or shrubs. 



1. P. domestica, L. (Damson I'luni.) Stem from 4 to 6 feet to the ]>oint where 

 the head begins to form, and from 4 to G inches in diameter; much-branched, 

 forming an open head about 15 feet 

 in diameter ; whole tree 10 to 20 feet 

 in height. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute or obtuse, varying very nnu-li 

 in shape, 1 to 3 inclies long, and tlu-ee 

 fourths of an inch wide ; petioles about 

 1 inch long. Flowers wliite, usually 

 solitary, appearing with the leaves. 

 Fruit very dark, varying to nearly 

 ■white, clothed with a glaucous bloom. 

 Stone smooth, more or less flattened. 

 Flowers in April and May. Fruit 

 ripens in August. 



The number of varieties is very 

 great ; about 300 are catalogued by 

 the nurserymen and fruit-growers, 

 differing in shape, size, color, or taste 

 of the fruit. 



Geor/raphi/. — Tlie jilum is widely 

 distributed; it is found in all parts 

 of the temperate zone .south of 60°, 

 throughout Euroj)e and western Asia. 

 It fl(mrishes best in tlie northern and 

 throughout the middle regions, and 

 is so well spread tliroughout Avestern 

 Asia a,s to make it dilhcult to fix 

 upon its native home. Tt was l>rouglit t( 

 colonists. 



Etyinohxj 11 . — The generic name pniinis is froin tlie JjWt'm, pri/inis, a plum. 

 The specific name, dotiu stirn, given l)y T.inua'us, exjdains itself. — the hou.se- 

 plum, or cultivated ])lum. The word plutn is of obscwre signification ; no 

 meaning is known for it. 



Prcncs DO.MESTICA (Daiii.son PliiinV 



•th 



-tern .Vmeriea bv Europeau 



