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FRUIT GARDEN COMPANION. 



CHAPTER II. 



ON THE CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF BERRIES* 



Art* I.— General Remarks. 



The currant, raspberry, strawberry and goose- 

 berry, are examples of the most useful kind of ber- 

 ries. A berry may be defined as a pulpy substance, 

 containing small stones or seed ; and ripening with 

 a pleasant acid taste, and in most cases, when in a 

 wild state, serves as food for birds : when highly 

 cultivated it is mostly valuable for the dessert, and 

 is used in domestic cookery in many ways hereafter 

 described under the different heads. 



Art. 2.— On the Culture of the Strawberry. 



Its origin and useful properties. — The strawberry 

 derives its English name from the custom originally 

 followed of putting straw under the plants when in 

 fruit, to protect it from being spoiled by the ground, 

 which rot it in moist weather. 



The botanical name Fragaria, is given from the 

 fragrance of the fruit, which is said to sweeten the 

 breath, remove the tartarious substance from the 

 teeth, and is classed by physicians among their 

 pleasant remedies. In domestic concerns it is used 

 in many ways when ripe ; it forms a delicious des- 

 sert — is used with cream, and preserved in many 

 different ways. 



Native country and varieties. — The species of 

 the strawberry are numerous and its varieties are 



