SEPTEMBER. 
187 
and greensward, re-created also by the same agency, give a fitting background 
to the picture; and the refreshed eye, and the gladdened heart, go up before 
the Great Artist in humble thankfulness for His goodness to the children of 
men. Quo. 
THE FAILURE OF THE STRAWBERRY CROP. 
The Strawberry is the most delicious and the most wholesome of all berries, 
and the most universally cultivated in all gardens in climates suitable to its 
growth. Strawberries are relished by young and old of all conditions in life; 
they are also invaluable to the confectioner, communicating their flavour to 
ices, and forming several delicate preserves. The failure of so important a 
crop is, therefore, a loss not only to the grower but to the public at large. The 
Strawberry belongs properly to cold countries ; it is of little or no value in hot 
or southern climates. 
The failure of the crop this season throughout the country is, in my very 
humble opinion, to be attributed to the long continuance of very dry hot weather 
which we had last summer. Keens’ Seedling suffered very much on soils that 
were light; the plants put forth few runners, and were in general so burnt up 
that, when rain came, it was the middle of September before they commenced 
growing, and, the weather continuing remarkably mild and open up to Christ¬ 
mas, the plants continued growing the whole time, not properly maturing the 
crowns : hence the failure of the crop. Some of the late kinds, as British 
Queen, Elton, and Eleanor did not suffer so badly; the foliage remained healthy, 
and they commenced growing after the first rain. 
Keens’ Seedling was a total failure with me this season. In all my 
experience I never recollect anything like it. I have had light crops other 
seasons, but this season there was none at all; and I find most of my neigh¬ 
bours’ crops have been nearly, if not quite, as bad. At Knaresborough, where 
great quantities of Strawberries are grown for Harrowgate, also for Leeds, 
Bradford, and other markets, the failure among Keens’ Seedling has been 
equally bad. Alice Maude and Princess Frederick William of Prussia have 
also both failed with me. I grow a few only of Oscar, Trollope’s Victoria, and 
Sir Charles Napier; consequently I cannot speak very positively about them, 
but with me they have only been light. I grew Sir Harry rather largely after 
it came out, but, notwithstanding its great bearing properties, and large showy 
fruit, I have of late years only grown a few rows of plants, as I considered 
the quality of the fruit very inferior, and the shape very ugly. I was greatly 
inclined to throw it out altogether; but I am now glad I did not, as my plants 
have this season borne a heavy crop of fine fruit. I intend growing more of 
it, and not quite so many of Keens’ Seedling as I have done. 
The British Queen has been a fair good crop this season with me, and also 
with others in this neighbourhood. My two-year and three-year-old plants have 
had nearly as good crops, and as fine fruit, as I generally get from them. The 
old plants have had but a light crop, and my young plants—last year’s runners, 
layered in small pots, and then planted out, and which generally bear some fine 
fruit—have been a complete failure. I consider the British Queen the best Straw¬ 
berry as yet in cultivation. It is an abundant bearer, and the fruit is universally 
acknowledged to be of first-rate excellence. It is rather tender, and if not 
protected in the winter will suffer from the severe weather; on this account 
some people have given up growing it. Early in the autumn, when the plants 
have completed their growth, I have some partially decayed manure—that 
having a good deal of short straw amongst it is best for the purpose—put 
about the plants, packing it well around the crowns with the hands. This 
