July 24, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. G3 
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COMING EVENTS 
24 
th 
Sheffield Show (two days). 
25 
F 
26 
S 
27 
SUN 
7Tn Sunday after Trinity. 
28 
M 
29 
TU 
so 
W 
Warwick Show. 
STEAWBEEKIES. 
0 favourable has the weather been during “ Straw¬ 
berry time ” for the full development of flavour 
and colour in this popular fruit, that varieties 
new and old have been fairly put upon trial, and 
advantage taken of so favourable an opportunity 
not only for a comparison of points of merit, but 
to obtain knowledge of the real utility of each 
for general cultivation. It is not my intention 
to write an exhaustive paper upon a subject 
about which so much has been written, but rather to call 
timely attention to a few sorts worthy of a place in every 
garden where they are not yet in cultivation. One cultural 
point I may once more usefully insist upon, and that is that 
any soil which has been brought into a suitable condition for 
the cultivation of vegetables will answer equally well for 
Strawberries. To speak of the soil of a kitchen garden in 
the same manner as we do of farm land, and say it is so 
heavy, light, cold, or wet as to be in an unsuitable condition 
for cropping, except in favourable seasons, is heresy. Garden 
soil, whatever its original condition, has to be drained if 
necessary, rendered fertile in the full sense of the word, and 
made so porous and friable that rain water jjasses quickly 
through it, and air enters freely. Until it is so improved it 
is unworthy of the name of garden soil, and certainly is un¬ 
suitable for the purpose to which it is devoted. 
The last variety of Strawberry to ripen has impressed 
itself so favourably upon my mind that I mention it first. 
It is Loxford Hall Seedling. The appearance of a plant in 
full bearing is quite unique in Strawberry culture. The 
leaf-growth, though fairly robust, is so compact that the 
quantity and size of the fruit is altogether out of proportion 
to it. The fruit, although so abundant, is large, much of it 
being very large and cockscomb-shaped. All of it is hand¬ 
some, of a bright crimson colour. The flesh is firm and of 
delicious flavour. I have gathered several dishes of excellent 
fruits of it from a row planted seven months ago, and the 
two-year-old plants have borne a heavy crop, some of which 
is still green. I regard it as the best of all late Strawberries. 
In striking contrast to this I may mention Helena Gloede as 
another late sort highly worthy of general culture, some of 
its fruit ripening with midseason varieties, and others well 
overlapping the first ripe fruit of Loxford Hall Seedling. 
Its leaf-growth is so strong as to be positively rampant, but 
its crop of fruit is so large, abundant, and well flavoured as 
to render it valuable and profitable. No doubt the hot dry 
weather accelerated the ripening of its fruit this year, and 
“J. E.” (see page 58) should make due allowance for it. 
It should also be remembered that when a Strawberry is 
termed late in ripening it by no means follows that it is very 
late. Black Prince and Loxford Hall Seedling represent 
extreme periods of the Strawberry season, and are therefore 
to be regarded as indispensable. The other sorts, forming 
the connecting links in the chain of ripening, must be chosen 
after trial with due care and judgment. 
Another variety that has stood me in good stead this 
No. 213.— VoL. IX., Third Series. 
summer is Sir Joseph Paxton. Well has it been described 
as “ one of the best and most useful varieties.” It may be 
termed an early midseason sort, a strong grower with large 
foliage, large handsome tapering fruit of a rich red colour, 
very juicy, firm, and richly flavoured, and an abundant 
cropper. James Veitch, too, is another sort ripening with 
or following Sir Joseph Paxton, of which it is a worthy 
associate. The handsome fruit is bright in colour, firm, 
sweet, rich, most refreshing, and very abundant. The 
Countess was sent to me by Messrs. Veitch & Sons as a variety 
highly worthy of culture, and I certainly find it so in every 
respect. It is very hardy, of medium vigour, bearing plenty 
of large fruit, both rich in colour and flavour. Hammonia 
proves a valuable late midseason variety, a free cropper, 
much of the fruit being large and of excellent flavour. 
Unser Fritz has been fairly good, but I had hardly enough 
plants of it in fruit to enable me to form a safe opinion of its 
merits. I can say, however, that it is a late ripener and 
the fruit keeps good for a long time. That fine old white 
variety Bicton Pine has had an abundant crop of useful fruit 
—useful both for size, colour, and flavour. Much of the 
fruit had a charming delicate pink tinge on the exposed side. 
It should be used soon after it is fully ripe, as it becomes- 
rather insipid in a day or two. 
Eed and White Alpines have been better flavoured than- 
I have known them to be for some years. I have often been- 
told that the flavour of fruit grown in this country is very 
poor in comparison with that found upon wild plants on the 
Alps. Two large beds two years old are apparently at their, 
best, the crop being abundant, and is likely to afford a supply, 
throughout August. —Edward Luckhurst. 
It is greatly to be regretted that the fine-flavoured Straw¬ 
berry, British Queen, is so seldom seen now, as none of the 
larger varieties can equal it in richness of flavour. The 
fruits certainly do not present such an imposing appearance 
upon the table, and that seems to be the point chiefly studied, 
though, for my own part, I prefer a variety which has some 
claims to merit in other and more important respects. I had 
long had an impression that it was a difficult and uncertain 
sort to grow, but having been favoured with a basket of fruits 
from a friend who has been very successful with it I deter¬ 
mined to try my fortune, and obtained some layers a season or 
two ago. Turning to Dr. Hogg’s excellent “ Fruit Manual ” 
I found the following remarks, which guided me to success, 
and I subsequently found had been similarly serviceable to my 
friend :—“ When well cultivated and thoroughly ripened this 
is perhaps the best of all Strawberries. It succeeds best 
with young plants renewed every season. The great fault is 
that the plant is so very tender. It will not succeed in all 
soils and situations, and it is generally an indifferent bearer. 
It forces well, and is much esteemed for that purpose.” 
With regard to the suitability of the soil and situation I had 
little fear of the result, as my garden is some distance south 
of London, the soil being deep loam of medium texture, and 
well drained, so that there was practically nothing to deter 
me from a trial. A large quarter was accordingly planted, the 
ground being previously well prepared, and the next year I 
was rewarded with a fair though not a large crop of deliciously 
flavoured fruits, which amply repaid me for the experiment. 
Since then I have made a fresh plantation every season, and 
have not had the slightest cause for complaint as to scarcity 
of fruits, the only defect being that the colour is not quite so 
bright as some like to see it. 
Another favourite of mine is the Hautbois, which has a 
very peculiar, and to me, a pleasing flavour. I have a small 
mound of rockery devoted to it, and there it grows and fruits 
most freely. The fruits, it is true, are small, and many would 
regard them as insignificant, but they are unique in flavour, 
and that I consider sufficient to entitle them to attention. 
It must, of course, be regarded more as a curiosity than as a 
useful variety, and could never be grown extensively in 
No. 18G9.—VoL. LXXT., Old Series. 
