STRAWBERRY. 371 



9. Downion S, — This is another triumph of the 

 skill and perseverance of the ingenious proprietor 

 of Downton Castle, in Herefordshire. The growth 

 and habit of this variety is conspicuously different 

 from any other sort, the footstalks of the leaves 

 being unusually short, and the disks a shining 

 green. The fruit are large, various in shape, 

 and of a deep red colour: flesh also coloured, firm, 

 melting, and high-flavoured. It has been observed 

 of this sort, that for the first and second year it is 

 prolific, but fails to bear afterwards, though the 

 plants are enlarged. From this circumstance a prac- 

 tical lesson is derived, viz, never to keep the plants 

 longer than the second year. Neither does this 

 variety produce many runners ; such as are produced 

 must be taken good care of, and let remain where 

 they are produced, till they are sufficiently strong to 

 be removed to the final station. This strawberry 

 seems to thrive better on a moderately light loam, 

 than on that which is moist and heavy. The trusses 

 of fruit are borne on long footstakes, and which, 

 with the weight of the fruit, fall on the ground on 

 the outside of the leaves, and then are liable to be 

 spoiled ; to prevent this, the trusses should be 

 propped with, and tied to short sticks, which much 

 improves the fruit both in flavour, and being free 

 from grit. Other sorts may be preserved clean, and 

 out of the way of slugs by the same means. 



10. Old Black Pine 5. — This is named from its 

 conical shape, and deep red colour. The fruit are 



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