344 
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, ‘ Superlative,’ is strongly recommended. 
