844 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



there far in advance of anything of the kind I had previously 

 seen. The air was perfumed with their delightful fragrance, and 

 the fruit was thrown well above the leaves on the old plants, 

 whilst the runners, not yet detached from the parent plants, were 

 commencing to fruit in pots in the open air. Even runners 

 from these were showing blossom. The name of the variety is 

 < St. Joseph.' 



Mr. Hudson, the eminent gardener at this establishment, in 

 a letter to the Standard, thus describes his mode of culture : — 



" The culture of the Alpine Strawberry is of the simplest 

 description. Seedling plants are infinitely better than those 

 obtained from runners. The old plan of propagation by runners 

 did nothing to increase its popularity, rather otherwise. Plants 

 raised from runners lack in a remarkable degree the vigorous 

 constitution of seedlings, whilst they are not so fertile, nor so 

 continuous in bearing fruit. The seed may be sown in a cold 

 frame in April, or in the open ground in May, similar to hardy 

 annuals, a moist, cool, shaded spot being chosen. The seedlings 

 should be transplanted once or twice, being finally put out into 

 beds eighteen inches from plant to plant, October being the best 

 month for this purpose. These plants if well attended to will 

 commence to bear fruit in June following, being as early as the 

 best known of the early kinds of the ordinary Strawberry, but 

 with continuous cropping qualities until the middle of October, 

 covering a period of four months. The season may be further 

 extended until the end of October, if ordinary garden frames be 

 placed over them, whilst under more favourable climatic con- 

 ditions the season can be further prolonged. When the fruit is 

 all picked the plants can be destroyed, or a portion of them, 

 those remaining being kept for the first crop another season, 

 these being again succeeded by seedling plants, which in that 

 case can have their first flower spikes cut off, so as to further 

 strengthen the plants. The runners, which are produced freely, 

 should be cut off too. Almost any soil, but preferably a light 

 one, will suit them. This Strawberry delights in moisture, and 

 a moderate amount of shade ; hence spots not suited to other 

 fruits may be utilised for this." 



The Easpberry also can be grown to great advantage in the 

 suburbs of London, as it is not adapted to bear long journeys, 

 and the new variety, 1 Superlative,' is strongly recommended. 



