June 23, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
467 
T he bright sunny weather, accompanied by occasional warm 
showers, which characterised the first two weeks of the current 
month, did much towards forwarding the Strawberry crop in many 
parts of the country. As a rule June is well advanced ere ripe 
Strawberries are plentiful in the open air ; but the present year is 
certainly an exception in this respect, notwithstanding the lateness 
of things in general. On June 10th ripe Strawberries were being 
sold in the streets of London at 6d. and 8d. a pound, and probably 
before these notes appear in print vendors will be satisfied with 
half the figures mentioned. Be that as it may, the fact we have 
here is that Strawberries generally were earlier than usual this 
year, and so far they appear to be exceedingly plentiful. 
At the beginning of the season eVery grower naturally strives to 
get his earliest outdoor fruit ripe as soon as he possibly can. To 
accomplish this the private gardener not infrequently resorts to 
various practices, such as placing roughly made frames and lights 
over a few plants, or forming a bed on a warm south border. The 
latter is an excellent method, and where facilities are forthcoming 
should be adopted, it usually producing the most satisfactory results. 
With the market grower, however, things are entirely different. 
He, as a rule, gi ows his crop in large breadths, and consequently 
must rely upon the weather, which is sometimes in his favour, but 
as frequently against him. 
What is the earliest Strawberry ? This question is probably 
passing through the minds of many readers just at present. Some 
growers are confident that their own pet variety is the first to 
ripen, whilst others assert boldly that another kind is the harbinger 
of this delicious fruit. Broadly speaking, however, the question 
still remains unanswered. Much depends upon locality, soil, and 
natural surroundings. From observations I have made during the 
past decade I am convinced that whilst one particular variety will 
ripen first in a certain district, another will precede it in other 
localities. Young plants, too, produce earlier fruit than do old 
plantations. Still, it is only fair to say that since the introduction 
of Noble a few years ago this variety is by many considered 
the earliest, and for market purposes it is now very extensively 
grown. A Somersetshire correspondent writes me that he gathered 
his “ first Nobles on June 9th this year from an outside border 
facing south-west, though not particularly sheltered.” This is a 
recommendation that should not be overlooked even at the expense 
of quality. 
This brings me to a most important point — flavour. Are 
Strawberries deteriorating in this respect ? Size and colour we 
undoubtedly have in recently introduced varieties, and the 
additional merits of being either very early or late, but flavour ! 
It is not in my province to pose as a connoisseur of Strawberries, 
but I do know when a variety is good or bad ; and some I have 
tasted were very defiiient in flavour. That soil and position 
affect the flavour of Strawberries to a considerable extent is, I 
think, well known, though gardeners do not study this matter so 
closely as they might do. For example, the variety Noble, when 
grown on rather heavy rich land, is as good in flavour as most 
kinds, but on poor ground it is sadly wanting. The same remarks 
apply to other varieties. At the same time, while recently introduced 
varieties are perfect as regards appearance, many of them are but 
poor in flavour compared with some of the old standard kinds. 
No. 626.—VoL. XXIV., Third Series. 
Where, for instance, can we find a better flavoured Strawberry than 
the old, and sometimes much abused, British Queen ? True, this 
is not everybody’s variety, inasmuch as it is rather fastidious as to 
soil and position, but where it does well it should certainly be 
extensively grown. The finest plantation of this variety I have 
seen was in a clergyman’s garden many years ago in Himpshire ; 
where, in a warm sheltered position, and on a light loamy soil, the 
fruit coloured beautifully and developed its characteristic flivour 
to perfection. Dr. Hogg, which might be described as a robust 
British Queen, also did remarkably well in the same garden, and 
rarely failed to produce a heavy crop of fine fruit. The prolific 
Vicomtesse H6ricart de Thury still holds its own as regards 
flavour, and for general purposes is perhaps one of the best Straw¬ 
berries in cultivation. In some gardens the grand old Keens’' 
Seedling still retains a good position, as it should do, though 
from others it has been obliterated to make room for more recent 
introductions. Sir Joseph Paxton and President are two useful 
varieties of good flavour when grown in a sunny position, and the 
same may be said of The Countess, a variety that does not appear 
to be so generally well known as it might be. I do not mean to 
say that the foregoing varieties are the best that can be grown, 
inasmuch as I am fully conscious that there are others probably 
better adapted for various districts, but given a fair trial it is a 
difficult matter to beat them for flavour. 
Every gardener knows what it is to have to provide Strawberries 
for preserving, and generally grows some special varieties for the 
purpose. Possibly Black Prince is as good as any for preserving, 
the fruit being of a rich colour and excellent flavour. Unfor¬ 
tunately, however, this variety will not thrive in every district. I 
have seen it tried again and again in a Northumberland garden, 
but always with the same result—failure. The plants became 
literally smothered with mildew before the fruit commenced to 
colour. As a consequence other varieties were grown in its place, 
one of the best being Grove End Scarlet. This is a grand Straw¬ 
berry for preserving, but rarely seen in modern gardens. Vicomtesse 
Hericart de Thury is also worth growing for this purpose, and so is 
Keens’ Seedling where it does well. 
Writing about these old varieties reminds me of some grand 
beds of the Hautbois Strawberry that I saw at Howick Hall, 
Northumberland, a few years ago. This species, of which there are 
several forms, is totally different to the other Strawberries, the 
fruit having a peculiar, though not unpleasant. Black Currant-like 
flavour. The best variety of this species is undoubtedly Rivers’ 
Royal Hautbois, this producing abundant crops of finer fruit than 
does the type. Those who require a novelty in the way of Straw¬ 
berries should give this variety a trial, and they will not be disap¬ 
pointed at the result. Alpine Strawberries are also well and 
extensively grown by Mr. Inglis at Howick Hall, quality being 
considered before quantity. 
One more jotting and I have done. Regarding the progeny of 
“ barren ” Strawberry plants a correspondent writes ;—“ I have 
solved a problem that had long bothered me, and which, judging 
from horticultural literature, both books and correspondence, seems 
to be a doubtful matter to many others. In the directions given 
for propagating Strawberries we are told to be sure and not take 
the runners from barren plants. Well, out of a lot of plants of 
Laxton’s Noble, which I had direct from the raiser, most blossomed 
and bore fruit, but a few were what is called barren. These, how¬ 
ever, sent out a large number of runners, both very early and very 
strong. The bed in which these were planted was similar in soil, 
manure, and position to that from which they came, and this season 
they are the finest plants I have. They were white with bloom, 
and are now loaded with the finest berries. I may add that after I 
had taken enough runners I removed the original “ barren plants 
from the bed and substituted others. They were not, however, 
thrown away, but were planted carefully in a row by themselves, 
where they are now bearing as well as any. I therefore shall 
No. 2282.— VoL. LXXXVI., Old Series. 
