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XXXIX. On the Cultivation of the Strawberry. In a Letter 

 to the Secretary. By Sir George Steuart Mackenzie, 

 Bart F. H. S. 



Read March 4, 1828. 

 My Dear Sir, 



1 have been somewhat surprized to find that the Downton 

 Strawberry is not esteemed in many parts of Scotland ; and 

 when a Nurseryman, who happened to be in my garden last 

 year after the first and finest fruit had been gathered, and only 

 the inferior berries remained, expressed his surprize at the 

 beauty and quality of the fruit, and at its being the Downton, 

 I could not help thinking that the true one is not yet known. 

 I never saw any thing more beautiful than my rows of Down- 

 tons were last year, many of the first berries of the cocks- 

 comb shape measuring 5£ and 6 inches. I consider this as 

 the standard Strawberry for it's season ; and that in seeking 

 new varieties, we have only to look for earlier and later sorts. 

 The first plants I obtained were from Mr. Knight, and I 

 have been careful to keep them distinct from all others. But 

 there is one cause, hitherto overlooked, which produces other 

 sorts in the rows after two years. Many berries decay, and 

 are passed over, and inferior ones are not gathered. The 

 seeds from these drop, and new sorts come up, and if run- 

 ners from them are taken, of course they are not the true 

 sort. The only way to preserve a variety pure, is to have 

 some stocks in a corner from whence runners are to be taken, 



