420 Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 



1 he other near the floor of the house for the admission of cold air, 

 will open and close again several times in the course of the day, 

 particularly when the weather is showery, with intervals of bright 

 sun." 



A common smith, who understands hanging house-bells, 

 and a tin-smith, will make and put up such a machine as this 

 without difficulty and for little expense. We have noticed 

 a similar contrivance by Mr. Mugliston, (p. 173.) which 

 Mr. Williams had not seen till after he invented the above. 



15. An Account and Description of the different Varieties of Straw- 

 berries which have been cultivated and examined in the Garden 

 qfthe Horticultural Society of London. By Mr. James Barnet, 

 Under-Gardener in the Fruit Department of the Garden. Read 

 December 7. 1824. 



This is one of the most elaborate papers which has yet ap- 

 peared in the Horticultural Transactions ; and it is valuable, 

 because it relates to one of the most wholesome, universally 

 attainable, and easily cultivated of hardy fruits. What the 

 Society have done with regard to the strawberry, shows what 

 they are capable of doing, and what they will render a great 

 service to the country by doing, with the gooseberry, apple, 

 pear, and other fruit-bearing trees. 



The exertions which were made to procure as complete a 

 collection as possible of all the strawberries known in the 

 gardens of the united kingdom, are worthy of notice as a 

 specimen, and as an example to others, of the methodical, 

 indefatigable, and successful exertions of the secretary. A 

 printed form, on which was to be noted the names, characters, 

 history, &c. of the different kinds of strawberries in the pos- 

 session of each individual, was sent to all who are known to 

 be attentive cultivators of strawberries. Upwards of seventy 

 of these forms were filled up and returned,' from which a 

 variety of useful information was procured, and upwards of 

 four hundred parcels of plants sent for. These were obtained 

 and planted in the spring of 1822, and were studied and com- 

 pared by Mr. Barnet during the seasons of 1823 and 1824. 

 The result is a general classification of strawberries under the 

 following seven divisions : — 



1. The Scarlet {fruited) Strawberries. Fragaria Virginiana and 

 F. Canadensis. Leaves nearly smooth, dark green, of a thin tex- 

 ture, with sharp -pointed serratures ; fruit small, bright coloured, 

 acid, and slightly perfumed. This class includes twenty -six sorts. 



2. The Black [fruited) Strawberries. Leaves rugose, pale green, 

 and small ; fruit middle- sized, conical, dark-coloured; flavour very 

 rich, and highly perfumed. Five sorts. 



3. The Pine [or pine-apple-flavoured) Strawberries. Leaves 

 almost smooth, dark green, of firm texture, and with obtuse ser- 



