20 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[July lo, isso. 
am certain that there are times when the subject should have more 
attention than it obtains ; and I have noticed, and possibly you have 
also, a hot dry season is one of those times that certain shy bearers appear 
to be more fruitful when grown in close association with other sorts, as 
though pollen were sometimes deficient. But while we discuss the 
difference between European and American Strawberries in respect of 
this question of stamens and pistils, it will be proper to keep in mind 
that the Strawberries of Europe are mostly descended from the Chilian 
and Virginian stocks ; while those of the United States are the progeny 
of the Virginian stock almost exclusively. And there is no shadow of 
whim or taste in the matter, for the South American race suit the 
European climates, and the North American race suit the North 
American climates ; for in those States in which Strawberries are in the 
greatest demand, the winters are too cold and the summers too hot for 
the progeny of Fragaria Chiliensis. Thus the question of staminates 
and pistillates is simplified, for the southern plants are more distinctly 
hermaphrodite than the northern, and this fact accounts for our in¬ 
difference to the subject of sex in this fruit. 
In view of these considerations it is remarkable that Decaisne in a 
list of thirty-one varieties, the parentage of which he attributes to F. 
virginiana, should include such evident hybrids as Admiral Dundas, 
British Queen, Eleanor, Eliza, Elton Pine, Goliath, Grosse Sucr^e, 
Jucunda, Keens’ Seedling, Lucas, Marguerite, Oscar, Sir C. Napier, Sir 
Harry, and Wonderful. As “ issues ” of F. Chiloensis he names only 
Barnes’ Large White and Chili Orange, both late varieties, fertile, and 
of good quailty. He might now, perhaps, be enabled to recognise in 
the vigorous-habited Waterloo the influence of the South American 
Strawberry ; but it must be confessed that in garden varieties the 
species have been so much mixed, that to determine in any case which 
of the parents predominates is well nigh impossible. That our American 
friends are chiefly indebted to their own wild Strawberry for the 
varieties they prize is admitted by all the authorities from Downing to 
Hoe, and the fact differentiates F. virginiana from F. vesca, the 
first being capable of endless variation, and the second being apparently 
as immoveable as the Britisher himself, and as incapable of quitting the 
groove scooped in the world for it by Nature. 
But our wood Strawberry takes at least three forms, which may be 
designated the vesca, alpina, and elatior forms. In like manner the 
American Scarlet takes a virginiana, an illinmnsis, and a canadensis 
form ; while the South American appears in a chiloensis, a grandiflora, 
and a Carolina form. These several sub-species, as they may be termed, 
may be regarded as connecting links that establish family relationships 
between the several species, and in the first instance reduce the reputed 
six species to an actual three, and the actual three to a possible one. 
Should we be enabled to trace the origin of the Strawberry so far back 
as to unite the species, we might go a step further, and entertain 
the notion that, to use the terms of the evolutionists, the plant originally 
produced dry carpels in the way of a Potentilla, but adopted the ingenious 
device of adorning the carpels with a sweet and fragrant pulp to bribe 
the birds to disseminate the seeds. But you did not invite me to indulge 
in speculations, and I will therefore be content in having placed before 
you a few matters of fact that may prove serviceable in aid of practical 
work ; for a knowledge of how a thing was made may serve as a guide 
to the process of improving it. 
GARDEN STRAWBERRIES. 
BY MR. J. WRIGHT. 
C Concluded from page 7.) 
Midseason Strawberries. 
Some years ago an election of Strawberries was conducted by the 
late Rev. C. P. Peach. Several growers in various parts of the country 
voted for what they considered the best varieties. The returns showed 
that Sir Joseph Paxton headed the poll, but with President almost an 
equal first. If a poll were taken now I suspect they would maintain 
their positions. They are two of the most useful in cultivation. Then 
we have the thoroughly serviceable, hardy, and free Yicomtesse 
Hericart de Thury. Sir Charles Napier is a standard variety at 
Chiswick—perhaps the most serviceable there of the midseason sorts, 
but it fails in some cold soils and districts. Countess, one of Dr. 
Roden’s varieties, is a thoroughly good Strawberry, growing well, and 
bearing its rich fruit in abundance. Lucas is a large handsome fruit, 
and the plant is vigorous and prolific. The good old Keens’ Seedling is 
still worthy of a place in limited collections. British Queen must be 
grown where it will thrive, and where it will not Dr. Hogg should be 
tried ; where both grow and bear both should be cultivated. James 
A eitch usually bears bountiful crops of large fruit, and is a favourite in 
“any gardens. La Grosse Sucr^e is decidedly useful, and Hammonia 
is perhaps not so much grown as its merits deserve as a large, solid, 
good flavoured variety, and not the less useful in being rather late. A 
dozen midseason Strawberries are named from well proved varieties, 
and I leave others to supplement the list. If I were to choose six from 
the twelve for linking the earlier with the later they would be the first 
six in the following list :— 
1. Sir Joseph Paxton. 
2 . President. 
3. Countess. 
4. Dr. Hogg. 
5. James Veitch. 
6. Hammonia. 
7. Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury. 
8 . Sir Charles Napier. 
9. La Grosse Sucree. 
10 . Keens’ Seedling. 
11. Lucas. 
12. British Queen. 
They are not placed in the order of merit, but the two last in each 
six are placed there because they connect the midseason with the late 
varieties. Dr. Hogg is placed in the first six because it succeeds in 
many gardens where British Queen fails. Vicomtesse Hericart de 
Thury is rather small, but if a cottager were to confine himself to just 
one variety, this would, perhaps, be the most serviceable. Twenty-two 
varieties are named, five early, twelve midseason, and five late. Reducing: 
them to selections of twelve and ten for succession they stand thus :— 
First Twelve. 
1 . Noble. 
2. Crescent Seedling. 
3. King of the Earlies. 
4. Sir Joseph Paxton. 
5. President. 
6 . Countess. 
7. Dr. Hogg. 
8 . James Veitch. 
9. Hammonia. 
10. Elton Pine. 
11. Eleanor. 
12. Waterloo. 
Second Ten. 
1. Pauline. 
2. Marguerite. 
3. Vicomtesse Hericart de Thur 5 
4. Sir C. Napier. 
5. La Grosse Sucr&e. 
6 . Keens’ Seedling. 
7. Lucas. 
8 . British Queen. 
9. Frogmore Late Pine. 
10. Loxford Hall Seedling. 
They are not exactly arranged in the order of ripening, but endeavour 
has been made to place in the first twelve those which combine the 
essential qualities of earliness and lateness with good size, quality, and 
productiveness in the majority of gardens, though there are a few sorts 
in the second ten that may excel in some. Still further reducing, we 
have two good half-dozens for succession in the following :— 
First Six. 
Second Six. 
1. Noble. 
2. Sir Joseph Paxton. 
3. President. 
4. Dr. Hogg. 
5. Waterloo. 
6 . Elton Pine. 
1. King of the Earlies. 
2. Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury- 
3. Keens’ Seedling. 
4. Sir C. Napier. 
5. British Queen. 
6 . Eleanor. 
If I were asked to nominate the three most useful varieties for small 1 
gardens they would be Noble, Sir Joseph Paxton, and Vicomtesse Heri¬ 
cart de Thury. 
It is open to cultivators to make better selections than the above, 
and I shall be very glad if they will do so. 
I should like to know something about Dr. Livingstone Strawberry, 
A grower of it in Scotland states he has had “ basketfuls of equal sized 
fruits of it eight and ten to a pound.” I presume he does not mean 
eighteen. He further says, “ No Strawberry will grow under trees as 
as well as this does,” and from rich new soil he “ pulled 4 lbs. of fruit 
from each yearling plant.” He has also recorded that he has had fruits 
of Cockscombs 4 ozs. and 1 grain each. This is Strawberry growing 
extraordinary, and I, for one, have still something to learn. 
Of Laxton’s Latest of All, A. F. Barron, Auguste Nicaise, Duchess 
of Edinburgh, Crown Prince, Souvenir de Kieff, Oscar, and Princess 
Frederick William something may perhaps be said by gardeners who 
have grown them. Of the first named especially it would be interesting 
to know if it justifies its name. Mr. Gibson of Draycot finds Princess 
Frederick William one of his best earlies, ripening in May, and this and) 
the Vicomtesse are perhaps the best for yielding second crops in the 
autumn from plants that have been forced in spring. I have more 
than once found Newton Seedling my sheet-anchor during a wet Straw¬ 
berry season in the fruits having remained firm when most others 
were rotting on the ground. 
I must say a word on behalf of the very distinct, richly flavoured, and 
much neglected Hautbois Strawberry. Years ago it was grown in most 
well furnished gardens, and enjoyed by their owners. It is now almost 
as scarce as the delightful Frontignan Grapes. There is a variety of the 
Hautbois at Chiswick, more prolific than any I have seen, and richer 
than any other Strawberry in the garden. Mr. Laxton should cross it 
with Noble, combine the virtues of both, and give the world a treat. 
In some of the “ best families ” the Grove End Scarlet or Roseberry 
have to be specially grown for preserving. They are planted about 
9 inches apart in beds, and grow into a mass. They are forms of the 
Virginian Strawberry. The last named was raised near Aberdeen—a 
chance seedling that came up under a Rose bush—hence the com¬ 
bination of Rose and berry—Roseberry. For that little “ tip ” I am 
indebted to my friend Mr. Barron. 
Passing to sites for plantations of Strawberries, we arrive at an im¬ 
portant practical matter in connection with a prolonged supply of fruit. 
This cannot be in the best manner secured without choosing the warmest 
positions, such as south borders (for some at least of the first early sorts), 
and north borders, or the coolest available positions, for the latest varieties. 
I have found this method of appropriation of the greatest possible advan¬ 
tage, and have practically doubled the length of the Strawberry season 
over what it was and must be when only midseason varieties are grown 
in an open position, or in the same quarter of ground. Yet this is still 
the practice in many gardens. I have recently seen a good example of 
the method advocated. On a south border Noble was first gathered on the 
3rd of this month, and the beds cleared and the runners layered on the 
23rd. In the same garden later varieties, but not the latest, are now 
(June 27th) flowering on the cool north border. If all had been grown 
in the middle of the garden, the ripening of the early variety would 
have been retarded and the later advanced, thus shortening the season 
