44 ON THE SCIENTIFIC CULTURE OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



among the Arroo Islands, which is the principal fishery. The price varies 

 according to the sort, from five to 100 rupees (10s. to £10) the picul. The 

 ' trepan marega' is valued at about £4 sterling the picul. The beche de 

 mer that are found on the reefs left dry by the tide, or in shoal water, 

 whether of grey or black colour, are of very inferior quality to those that 

 are fished for in five or six fathoms." 



[Specimens of tripang, or beche de mer, may be seen in the Food Collec- 

 tion of the South Kensington Museum, in the Collection of the East India 

 House, at the Museum of the College of Surgeons, and in the Shell Gallery 

 of the British Museum. But very little scientific information on the species 

 and varieties has yet been furnished. Indeed, the commercially-prepared 

 state in which they are received renders identification or description very 

 difficult. Of the Holothuria? one species is collected and eaten by the poor 

 inhabitants of the Neapolitan coast. 



The Sipunculus edulis is also used as an article of food in China and 

 Japan, and in parts of the West Indies. In New Guinea the tripang 

 and similar marine slugs are cut up in small pieces and eaten raw with 

 salt and limejuice. In Simmonds's Colonial Magazine, Yol. X. p. 189, I 

 published detailed descriptive accounts from various authors of the trade, 

 mode of catching, and curing the slug ; and in my recent work on " The 

 Curiosities of Food," I gave some further particulars of the fishery, and 

 cited opinions relative to this Chinese food delicacy.] — Editor. 



ON THE SCIENTIFIC CULTURE OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



BY LEONARD WRAY. 



Amongst our British fruits the Strawberry holds a very high rank, and 

 is justly esteemed both for the table and for preserves. A very large 

 extent of land is aj>propriated to its culture, much capital is expended, and 

 no small amount of "art" is exhibited in bringing this fruit before the 

 public in its choicest condition. 



Size, colour, and flavour have been studied very successfully, as the large 

 and beautiful specimens which are exhibited at the various horticultural 

 shows, and in the windows of our fruit- sellers, fully demonstrate. New 

 varieties are eagerly sought for, and found, by the great strawberry growers 

 — as Myatt, Turner, Robertson, and a host of others ; and the result of 

 their intelligent labours we see, and fully appreciate, in those choice, new 

 varieties — the "Oscar," the " Wizard of the North," the "Surprise," the 

 " Empress Eugenie," the " Mammoth," the " Prolific Hautbois," &c, &c. 



These are of the highest excellence ; and, in our northern climate, can 

 possibly not be surpassed, in point of size, colour, flavour, and juiciness — 



