July 17, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
45 
1 obtained only five plants, one of which proved bolder than the rest, and 
subsequently became “ Ennobled ”—the remainder were not acquisitions. 
How, considering that I have during the past thirty-two years from my 
-own work of cross-breeding raised at least 10,000 seedling Strawberries, 
and out of these only nine have as yet been sent forth to the world, 
although all have had to be tried, and many after being largely cultivated 
for years have had ultimately to be abandoned, and that out of a small 
batch of five from natural fertilisation there should be one distinct 
gain, I feel that the work of a cross-breeder who can only point to such 
results is not altogether satisfactory, nor, I may feelingly add, profitable. 
Although Noble was only from natural, or insect, or wind, fertilisation, 
I am able, with some confidence, to indicate its breed, and that it con¬ 
tains American blood, as the fruit from which it was grown was taken 
from a row of Forman’s Excelsior grown contiguous to one of Sharpless 
'Seedling, a large, early, and vigorous sort, and if the foliage,habit, fruit, 
and periods of maturity of these two varieties be examined and con¬ 
sidered, it will appear tolerably plain that Noble has a good deal of each 
of these varieties in it, and that the advantages of American blood have 
been secured without the agency of man. The influence and weight 
■of Noble will, however, doubtless soon be apparent in forthcoming 
varieties, for by intercrossing it with all the best varieties, and reversing 
the crosses in most cases a large number of seedlings have been obtained 
and are on trial. In carrying out my own work I have found that the 
seed of Noble is lighter, and does not vegetate so freely as that of the 
varieties crossed with its pollen, and it may be that to this imperfection of 
seed the fertility of Noble in quantity and size of fruit may be owing. 
I have also introduced with success the blood of other American seed¬ 
lings into my crosses, and I am a believer that in this introduction of new 
blood there is greater probability of further advancing our own home 
race of Strawberries, a fie'd in which there is yet ample scope for 
progress. 
THE DISCUSSION. 
Ik the course of the discussion which followed a number of culti- 
•vators expressed their opinion upon the subjects dealt with in the papers 
read. The principal points raised are, however, given in the subjoined 
•condensed notes :— 
Mr. Albert Bath said he was unable to agree with Mr. Bunyard’s 
estimate of the profits of Strawberry culture, and considered that £40 
per acre was too high. He considered that in growing Strawberries for 
market rather more space should be allowed between the plants in the 
rows than was stated by Mr. Bunyard, and, according to his experience, 
the largest crop was obtained by having the plants sixteen inches apart. 
Mr. Cannell expressed his opinion that both Mr. Bunyard and Mr. 
Bath were referring to the distances required by plants grown in 
(ploughed land. When so grown the space was no doubt sufficient, but 
when the land was deeply stirred and liberally manured, they required 
even more room than stated by Mr. Bath. He was very glad indeed 
that the British Fruit Growers’ Association had made arrangements for 
a conference on Strawberries, for their culture had now become an 
industry of immense importance, and more especially was this the case 
in the county of Kent, where there were now between 2000 and 3000 
acres devoted to Strawberries, giving during the picking season employ¬ 
ment to a whole army of men, women, and children. As showing in 
some degree the extent of the crop, he would mention that when at 
Swanley Junction in the morning he saw no less than fifteen trucks 
waiting to be loaded and dispatched in the course of the day to the large 
towns in the midland and northern counties. With reference to the 
soil, he agreed with Mr. Wright as to Strawberries flourishing on light 
soils, as proved by the abundant crops produced on the chalk in Kent. 
Mr. J. Peed, in referring to the comparative merits of varieties, said 
that he regarded Laxton’s Noble as a great gain. It was one of the 
most handsome Strawberries he knew ; and as regards its size, he would 
mention that a few days previously he had gathered nine fruits, one of 
which turned the scale at If oz., and the remainder weighed 12 ozs., or 
an average of l£ oz. 
Mr. Cheal, in proposing a vote of thanks to the readers of the papers, 
said the association had good cause to congratulate itself on having 
been able to obtain the co-operation of such high authorities on the 
respective subjects as the gentlemen who had contributed the papers. 
Mr. Hammond seconded the motion, and said that he had in Essex 
•tried for several years to grow the British Queen, but with very little 
success. Eventually he obtained runners of that variety from a neigh¬ 
bour who was very successful in its cultivation, and since had obtained 
excellent crops. 
The motion having been unanimously adopted, the proceedings ter¬ 
minated with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman. 
LEDUM PALUSTRE. 
As dwarf evergreen free-flowering shrubs the Ledums are worth 
a place wherever peat-loving plants are grown and an American 
garden is provided. The Labrador Tea, L. latifolium, is a stronger 
growing shrub with broader leaves than the Marsh Ledum or Wild 
Rosemary, L. palustre (fig. 8), but the latter produces its globular 
heads of white flowers very freely. It will grow in damp and 
shaded situations where comparatively few shrubs succeed, and 
flowers about the same time as the hardy deciduous Azaleas. Both 
the species named are from North America, and were intro¬ 
duced in 1762 and 1763, but there is another also occasionally named 
L. canadense, which is of dwarfer habit, and did not reach this 
country till 1812. 
The leaves of L. palustre have a balsamic odour, an aromatic 
bitter taste, and contain, among other ingredients, volatile oil and 
tannin. They have been sometimes used to allay irritation in 
whooping cough and various cutaneous diseases. In complaints of 
the skin they are used both externally and internally in the form 
of decoction. When placed among clothes they are said to prevent 
the attack of moths. In Germany they are sometimes substituted 
for hops in the preparation of beer. An oil is obtained from the 
FIG. 8.—LEDUM PALUSTRE. 
leaves by distillation, which is yellow, with an intoxicating odour 
and a burning aromatic taste. The leaves of L. latifolium have 
an agreeable odour and taste, are esteemed pectoral and tonic, and, 
from being used as a substitute for tea, the plant has been called 
Labrador Tea. The flowers afford a great quantity of honey to 
the bees. The leaves of both these species infused in beer render 
it very heady, and cause headache, nausea, and even delirium. 
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
It has been satisfactorily proved during the past few years that 
Tuberous Begonias must take rank amongst the most useful flower¬ 
ing plants cultivated for purposes of conservatory and garden 
decoration. The plants have been tested under all conditions, and 
in good and bad seasons alike they have maintained their characters 
admirably. In pots or baskets under glass their merits are great— 
their flowers are large, are freely produced, and present a range of 
