By Mr. James Barnet. 



173 



year as the preceding, at Methven Castle ; it bore fruit in 

 1816 at that place. A short notice of specimens exhibited 

 in 1820 was published* by the Horticultural Society ; these 

 were sent by the Rev. Thomas Garnier, of Bishopstoke, near 

 Winchester. The variety was at that time grown much in 

 Hampshire, having been introduced there in the year 1819 

 by Mr. Joseph Miller, who then lived as gardener with 

 Lady Rumbold, near Southampton. It is sometimes impro- 

 perly called the Mathven Castle Strawberry. It was raised 

 from seed of the true Hudson's Bay. On its first appearance 

 the size and beauty of the fruit attracted general notice, and it 

 was eagerly sought after ; but its want of richness and flavour 

 has thrown it out of cultivation, except as an object of curiosity. 

 Synonyms. 

 Methven Castle. 

 Southampton Scarlet. 

 It is a moderate bearer, ripening in succession, and comes 

 into use late. The fruit is very large, cordate-compressed, 

 inclining to cockscomb in the earliest fruit, the late ones 

 conical, dark scarlet ; the seeds pale yellow, not deeply em- 

 bedded, regularly and closely set, with ridged intervals ; the 

 flesh is scarlet, very woolly and tasteless, with a large hollow 

 in the centre. The calyx is large, and reflexed. The leaves 

 are strong ; the foot-stalks slightly hairy ; the leaflets large, 

 nearly round or ovate, irregularly concave, sometimes convex, 

 their texture thick, the serratures deep, the upper surface 

 shining dark green. The runners are very vigorous, light green. 

 The scapes are hairy, very stiff, short, with very strong, long, 

 * See Horticultural Transactions, Vol. iv. page 509. 



