1871. ] 
HOW TO PROLONG THE STRAWBERRY CROP. 
275 
variety which I had some eight years ago of Mr. Nicholson, of Eaglescliffe, Yarm ; 
hut it is not so hardy as the former, and cannot be relied on after the end of 
September, except the season is warm. Another that produces fruit in autumn 
with the least trouble is Sir Walter Scott; this, too, I had from Mr. Nicholson 
sixteen or more years ago, but it is pale and soft, though of good flavour in 
autumn. John Powell is quite as good as President with me, but I find many 
others far better than these for a crop, although they are excellent as to texture, 
flavour, colour, &c. Swainstone's Seedling is good as to crop and flavour, but pale 
and soft. Rivers' Eliza , too, will bear a few, and so will many others. Blade 
Prince is fine in colour, and not very small. The most hardy of all is Mag 
Queen; I have had this within a week of Christmas, but unless thoroughly ripe 
it is acid, and it is, moreover, very small compared with others. I might name 
many more, including some that will not fruit; the Old Carolina may be 
given as an example of this; I get it to flower from August till December, 
and profusely too, but I do not remember ever to have gathered one fruit. 
One remark I should like to make, namely, that the time to keep them in a cool 
frame as a period of rest must be regulated according to the time they are re¬ 
quired in fruit—from one month to four or nearly as much ; but it is not practicable 
to tell within a week or more when the fruit will be ripe, so much depends on 
the state of the atmosphere, more so even than in the spring ; at least I find it so. 
We have gathered about 25 quarts (1^ lb. to the quart) since about the third 
week in August; to-day (October 10) some very fine, about 3|r lb. of Patrick's 
Seedling . I get these much larger, and even better flavoured now, than in the 
summer. So very different are they, that one might defy even an epicure in 
Strawberries to say what they were, size, colour, texture, flavour, and even shape 
being quite distinct from those in the ordinary season ; and as they grow on the 
south slope of a hill, they will continue for some time yet. Those, however, who 
wish to grow a regular crop must provide some means of protection from rain and 
frost in October and November, such as that afforded by spare lights. These 
lights may be fixed by driving with a mallet some small poles into the ground, 
having previously made a hole with an iron bar and pointed the pole, and in this 
way will be much firmer, as well as more easily fixed, than by digging a hole and 
afterwards ramming in the soil. These poles or posts may be about 9 in. high 
in front, and sufficiently high at the back to give a good fall to the water. It 
will be necessary to have stout battens laid horizontally on these posts, back and 
front, as well as to form cross-bars. Unless some such protection is provided, I 
am sure there will be disappointment, for excessive wet will prevent the proper 
ripening of the fruit, and frost will destroy it. 
May I add that it is not absolutely necessary to have forced Strawberry plants 
for securing this autumn crop of fruit ? It may be done in the following way :— 
Having the borders some 4 ft. or 5 ft. wide, about the proper fruiting time, or 
sooner if the season is more than ordinarily wet, place some spare lights over the 
