I907-] 



Modern Strawberry Growing. 



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large, conical, highly-coloured berry, with firm flesh, which 

 means that it not only looks well when it leaves the farm, but 

 also when it reaches the market. It is impossible to evade the 

 conclusion that " Royal Sovereign " is the most valuable all- 

 round strawberry now before the public. Not only is it a 

 good field and garden sort, but it is also excellent for forcing. 

 In a large number of establishments it has displaced all the 

 old favourites for pot work, such as " La Grosse Sucree," 

 " Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury," " President," and f< Auguste 

 Nicaise." There is no precedent, indeed, for the dominant 

 position which this splendid variety has secured in a com- 

 paratively short period. It is still in the full vigour of youth, 

 -and for many years to come should do yeoman service both in 

 market and private gardens. 



" The Laxton." — The variety which followed " Royal 

 Sovereign " with the hallmark of the Bedford raisers upon it, 

 named " The Laxton," has received high encomiums from 

 distinguished growers. With such famous parents (" Sir 

 Joseph Paxton " and " Royal Sovereign ") it should have all 

 the elements of greatness which heredity can bestow, and it is 

 unquestionably a good variety. It is early (though not quite 

 so early as "Royal Sovereign"), prolific, a large, handsome 

 fruit, and excellent in flavour It is, however, a sort to experi- 

 ment with before planting largely. 



Value of Trial Grounds. — Here I would digress for a moment 

 to urge upon large growers the desirability of having a trial 

 ground, wherein every newcomer with the least claim to excel- 

 lence can be tested directly it comes before the public. Very 

 few think of this, yet its advantages are obvious. It puts 

 the grower at once into practical touch with modern progress. 

 Should a variety prove valuable, he has a small stock from which 

 to propagate, either for his own planting or for sale. An 

 important consideration in this connection is that, as soil and 

 climate have a considerable bearing on the success of straw- 

 berries, it is wise to test a sort on the spot before buying largely. 

 The trial should extend over at least two years, because the 

 results of one year are apt to be misleading ; one variety will be 

 stimulated by the change, and do better than when it has 

 settled down ; another will <e sulk " a little, and need to become 

 acclimatised. A second point of importance is that the plants 



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