298 



POINTS OF A GOOD STRAWBERRY. Mr. F. L. Jansen, in a 

 comprehensive paper on the strawberry, published in the Agri- 

 cultural Gazette of the Department of Agriculture, 1ST.S.W., thus 

 summarises the desiderata of a good strawberry : " The qualities 

 essential to a first-class variety are : fruit large, of a regular, firm, 

 and nearly uniform size, to the end of the season ; texture fine, 

 flesh rich and firm, with a moderate amount of acid, and with an 

 aromatic flavour. A longitudinal cut should show no hollow space ; 

 the seeds should be deeply embedded, and the calyx set high, so as 

 to be easily detached. The plant should be hardy, vigorous, and 

 strong, with perfect flowers, i.e., self-fertilising, a prolific bearer, 

 with stalks of sufficient length to keep the fruit out of the dirt." 



A FEW PROFITABLE STRAWBERRIES. The number of varieties 

 of strawberries which, at one time or another, have found favour 

 with growers, is now very considerable. Most of. them have some 

 special points of merit which make it more or less desirable under 

 the particular prevailing conditions. Tt is only, however, by 

 experimentation, by selection, and by observation of what others 

 are doing elsewhere, under conditions somewhat similar to our own, 

 that we are mainly guided in deciding upon what varieties to grow. 

 The strawberries described in this paper have either proved 

 themselves profitable with us, or are highly recommended by 

 successful growers. 



WOOD OR ALPINE STRAWBERRIES. 



QUEEN OF FOUR SEASONS. Illustrated above. Very early, 

 fruit oblong, dark red, highly perfumed, and most prolific ; one of 

 the best of this class, can be propagated from seeds ; being a 

 smaller kind, a distance of IS inches between the rows is sufficient, 

 where horse cultivation is not resorted to. Under high culture, 

 will produce a second crop in the autumn. This berry is illustrated 

 on p. 289. 



HAUTBOIS STRAWBERRIES. 



BELLE BORDELAISE. Fruit large, roundish oval, dark purple, 

 flesh firm, white, sweet, and musky flavoured, ripens mid-season, 

 plants very vigorous and productive, answers to forcing. 



PROLIFIC OR MUSK HAUTBOIS. Very productive, fruit large, 

 dark purple, flesh firm, sweet, musky flavoured, plants strong and 

 productive. 



CHILIAN STRAWBERRIES. 



WILMOT'S SUPERB. One of the few of this class now culti- 

 vated. Fruit large, showy, roundish or cockscomb shaped, of a 

 deep pink .colour, flesh firm, hollow cored, fairly good flavour, 

 ripens mid-season, plants strong and fair bearers. 



WHITE CHILIAN (Yellow Chilian). Large, showy, roundish 

 fruit, yellowish-white, with a pink tint on the sunny side, flesh 

 firm, and sweet, packs and carries well, plant hardy, strong, and 

 fairly productive. 



