THE STRAWBERRY. 249 



liave too much of each fruit seen, and in this way 

 the eye takes in more of the individual fruits than 

 when dished in the usual way in a semi-globular 

 form, the fruit laid in circles with a strawberry-leaf 

 between each, the outer row of fruits being the least 

 and those in the centre of the basket the largest. 



VARIETIES FOR FORCING. 



It is not always easy to pronounce dogmatically 

 on the varieties that are best for forcing ; I have 

 experimented with scores of sorts, and came to the 

 conclusion that there are not very many which possess 

 all the qualities which fit them for forcing, and early 

 forcing in particular. Keen's Seedling was till re- 

 cently more extensively grown than any other sort, 

 and more generally accounted the best to grow for 

 a general crop. It, however, in some localities has 

 proved a failure ; but so far as I am aware this is 

 the exception, not the rule. Vicomtesse Hericart de 

 Thury is now very extensively used. It is proKfic 

 and of good quality. Black Prince is a most prolific 

 bearer, and for very early forcing is decidedly the most 

 certain, from its free blooming and setting qualities. 

 I can confidently recommend for the earliest crops — 

 i.e., to ripen in early part of March — Black Prince, 

 Underhill's Sir Harry, Keen's Seedling, Vicomtesse 

 Hericart de Thury, and La Grosse Sucr^e to succeed 

 it. Prince of Wales is an excellent second or rather 

 third early in the order of these three. For the latest 

 crops nothing can equal in flavour the old British 

 Queen ; but it is not very prolific, and does not suc- 

 ceed well in many soils. Sir Charles Napier forces 

 weil, is large and showy, but rather acid. President 



