362 REMARKS ON THE KINDS AND CULTIVATION OE STRAWBERRIES. 
earlier than others, and an old kind, called The Duke of Kent’s Scarlet, is the earliest; 
but for these purposes a few days in the ripening of a variety in the open ground (now so 
many are produced under glass) is less an object than formerly ; and, although later, the 
Grove End stands pre-eminent as a scarlet for colour, size, and productiveness, yielding 
both quality and quantity. Keen’s Seedling is sometimes used for jam, but is of a dark 
dull colour ; it is, however, much improved by the addition of red currant juice. The 
Elton Pine is also improved by this addition, and its magnificent fruit, preserved whole, 
have a very prepossessing appearance as a portion of winter dessert. 
Of the kinds best adapted for table, the Keen’s Seedling is the first to ripen in the open 
ground upon a south border. This is too well known as a valuable kind to require 
comment here. Alice Maude is a little later, but not first-rate in flavour ; it is, however, 
useful, and produces, under good management, very large fruit. Hooper’s Seedling is a 
noble Strawberry in appearance, but too acid in flavour. Both these kinds are worth 
cultivation, from their fine appearance, and as ripening before the incomparable British 
Queen. Myatt’s Eliza is one of the best Strawberries in cultivation ; the fruit is not 
large, but of exquisite flavour ; it ripens just before, and continues in bearing for some 
time with the British Queen. The Hautbois comes in about the middle of the Strawberry 
season. It is considered the greatest rarity, and held in the highest esteem at the tables 
of the great, but it is, at the same time, most difficult to get a crop of ; and here it may 
not be uninteresting to say a few words upon this choice fruit. 
There are two kinds in general cultivation, the prolific or conical, and the large flat ; 
the latter, as its name implies, attaining the greater size ; both, when well ripened, are 
perhaps equally rich in the musky aroma which is the distinguishing character of the 
Hautbois. It has been said that there are male and female plants, the latter only 
producing fruit, but requiring the presence of the male to effect that purpose. It is, 
however, certain, that the Strawberry is generally hermaphrodite, but frequently imperfectly 
so ; and hence, there are always plants more or less sterile. These grow with greater 
luxuriance than the fruit-bearing ones, and soon, if allowed to do so, run over the entire 
bed, rendering it completely barren. To prevent this, when the fruit is ripe the bed 
should be carefully examined, rooting out every unproductive plant, and propagating only 
from those which yield abundantly of good fruit. This course of proceeding carried out for 
successive seasons, and the routine of culture properly attended to, the fruit may be 
depended upon with as much certainty as a crop of “ Scarlets.” 
The first attempts to combine quality with size in Strawberries were mere abortions , 
partaking too much of the coarseness and hollowness of the old Chile kind ; such was 
Wilmot’s Superb ; but thanks to the perseverance and enterprise of Mr. Myatt, of 
Deptford, we have now attained that which was so long a desideratum. His British 
Queen, as it is one of the largest, so is it one of the best varieties which have ever been 
raised ; if it has a fault, it is that in wet sunless seasons it does not ripen quite up to the 
apex. It is, however, an invaluable kind. 
Myatt’s Globe is a good bearer and a well-flavoured fruit, ripening about the same time 
as British Queen ; it is well worth cultivation. Eleanor is also good. 
The kinds already mentioned have carried us on with a supply of good table fruit over 
a considerable part of the season. The next in succession, the Elton Pine, is the most 
valuable of late Strawberries, producing immense crops, and yielding, when grown on a 
north border, a fine supply both for the table and preserving. To prolong the supply, 
some of the early-forced kinds, turned out of pots into the open ground, will produce a few 
fruit in the autumn, and the Alpine kinds will continue to give occasional dishes till their 
progress is arrested by frost. 
There are some few new varieties of Strawberries, which are being sent out for the 
first time this season. Cuthill’s Black Prince has been recommended, but the writer does 
not know it. Kitley’s Goliah is said to excel British Queen, but this has yet to be proved. 
Myatt’s Mammoth is most magnificent in appearance, but quite nauseous as to taste. 
A few may be tolerated in a large garden for the sake of their splendour and size. The 
varieties which have now been mentioned comprise all that are really worth growing, and 
