THE STRAWBERRY 191 



foliage dark green, rather small, on dark footstalks ; an enormous bearer, and one 

 that every garden should possess. The plants resist hot weather, and have also the 

 advantage of fruiting again in the autumn. On the dessert table it is much appreciated as a 

 change from the red strawberries ; valuable for town gardens, being hardy and vigorous. 



Mentmore. — Fruit of dull red colour throughout, large, of regular shape ; seeds 

 deeply set ; flavour sweet and luscious ; foliage large ; growth compact, bearing 

 profusely. Not yet fully proved, but is very highly spoken of. 



Newton Seedling. — Fruit long and pointed, deep shining red ; seeds black ; 

 sepals slightly red ; Jlesh firm, pale pink, somewhat acid ; foliage deep bluish green, 

 rather sparse ; leaf-stalks red ; flower-stalks very long and branched. The flowers alone 

 render this variety worthy of a place in the garden, being large and primrose colour. 

 An enormous bearer and valuable for market sale as a late variety. The fruit forms a 

 complete fringe outside the leaves. So vigorous that the plants may be set a yard 

 apart each way. 



President (Green's). — The early fruits squarely wedge-shaped ; late ones often round ; 

 colour \]ix\%\iX red; seeds small, deeply embedded ; sepals clasping fruit ; flesh firm, pale 

 red, soft and melting ; flavour briskly acid, good ; foliage deeply toothed, bright 

 shining green, very robust on long green footstalks. This is one of the best for the main 

 out-of-doors crop and also for forcing under glass. 



Queen of Denmark. — Fruit small, but produced in great profusion, long and 

 irregular ; seeds small ; sepals hoary, clasping the fruit ; flavour very rich, first-rate ; 

 foliage strong and upright, olive green ; flower-stalks long, and thrown above the 

 leaves. A most valuable variety for a late crop when planted on a north border. It 

 bears an enormous crop. 



Royal Sovereign. — Fruit very large, abruptly wedge-shaped or pointed oval, 

 bright red, glossy, with small seeds slightly embedded ; flesh firm ; sepals orange red ; 

 flavour briskly acid, juicy, pleasant ; foliage very robust on long red footstalks ; 

 flower-stalks longer than the foliage. One of the earliest to ripen, and the best for early 

 forcing. It has not the rich flavour of some varieties, but for general usefulness over a 

 long season it cannot be surpassed. Its vigorous habit insures success on soils where 

 better sorts fail ; if only one is grown Royal Sovereign is the variety to choose. 



Sir Charles Napier. — Fruit irregular, both round and cockscombed, smooth, 

 with short neck ; colour bright red ; seeds dark, lying on the surface ; flesh orange, paler 

 near centre ; flavour briskly acid. Sepals spreading ; foliage thin, pale green, on stiff 

 footstalks; of moderate growth. The fruit is firm and carries well. The foliage has 

 an unhealthy appearance. A variety that is not always satisfactory ; succeeds on 

 gravelly soils. Good for preserving. 



Stirling Castle. — Fruit small, pointed or wedge-shaped, of rich, distinct flavour. 

 A profuse bearer. In foliage and habit this closely resembles Vicomtesse H. de Thury, 

 and we cannot see much difference between them. It is a good cropper, and valuable 

 for preserving. 



Sir Joseph Paxton. — Fruit bright red, glossy, regularly pointed, seldom flat or 

 cocks-combed ; seeds deeply set ; sepals spreading ; flesh firm, pale colour ; flavour 

 slightly acid ; foliage deep dull green, very robust. This is a favourite market straw- 

 berry, as it is of a grand colour. In gardens under good culture it is passable, but there 

 are many better for private use. It is, however, valuable for preserving, hardy, and 

 free-bearing 



The Laxton. — Although at the time of writing this new! variety has not been 

 sent out, experts report so favourably of it that it is included. It is earlier and larger 

 than Royal Sovereign, darker and brighter in colour, and of grand flavour. The plant is 

 vigorous and hardy, and a prodigious cropper. F.C.C., R.H.S. 1902. 



The Noble. — Fruit bluntly round, sometimes very large ; blood-red coloured all 

 through ; seeds small ; sepals uneven ; flavour mealy, second-rate ; foliage very vigorous, 

 deeply toothed, robust ;^(?a/£^-jjfa//i'j just covered by foliage. This variety is valuable 

 upon soils that will not grow better sorts, the fruits ripen early, are most abundant, and 

 grand for preserving. 



