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Account and Description of Strawberries. 



Synonyms. 



Imperial. 

 Black Imperial. 

 Large Imperial Black. 



Keens' Black. 



Keens' Large-fruited. 

 Isleworth Pine. 

 Large Black. 

 Keens' Black Pine. 



Imperial Pine. 

 Black Isleworth. 



This is not an early Strawberry, but it produces usuallya 

 tolerably good crop. The fruit is very large, roundish, some- 

 times bluntly pointed, when ripe of a very dark purplish red 

 next the sun ; the seeds project from the surface of the fruit, 

 which is shining ; the flesh is not juicy, but very firm, it is 

 coarse, hollow in the centre, with a core, the flavour tolerable. 

 The calyx is large, partially spreading, incurved, sometimes 

 reflexed. The footstalks of the leaves of moderate length, 

 stiff, spreading, slightly hairy ; the leaflets large, roundish, 

 concave, of thick texture, spreading, with large and coarse 

 rounded serratures, their upper surface glossy dark green. 

 The runners are but few, they are however very large. The 

 scapes are as long as the leafstalks, very stiff, hairy, branching 

 much, with long, spreading, stiff peduncles ; the flowers are 

 rather small, they are not uniformly productive, the latter 

 ones especially being abortive. 



The want of rich flavour in this variety caused it to decline 

 in the good opinion of the generality of Cultivators, though it 

 was very popular on its first appearance, and the introduction 

 of Keens' Seedling, which excels it in every quality, whether 

 peculiar to the two, or possessed in common with others, has 

 nearly driven it from the market. The fruit of Keens' Impe- 

 rial will remain fresh and good to the eye three days after it 

 has been gathered. The plants appear to be tender. 



