216 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
chal Vaillant, Jules Margottin, Charles Lefebyre, Auguste Mie, Beauty of 
Waltham, and Jean Touvais; Tea, Souvenir d’un Ami, Gloire de Dijon, 
Souvenir de Elise Yardon, and Madame Falcot; Bourbon, Souvenir de Mal- 
maison, and Noisette Celine Forestier. 
B. D. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
I have read tbe articles on Strawberries by Mr. Saul and Mr. Tillery in 
the September Florist . They have given the main reasons of the failures this 
year. These are not to be attributed entirely to the demolition of blooms by 
spring frosts, but also to the lack of water after cropping and after planting in 
1864. The Strawberry bloom here was quite a floral scene ; but I find that in 
many places the plants did not bloom at all. Why was this? The old plants 
were burnt up in 1864, and the runners were taken too late to form crowns; 
or, not being watered or mulched to keep the ground moist, the rootlets of the 
young plants were burnt up as soon as they were made. Mr. Saul says the 
failure was owing <r to the long continuance of very hot dry weather; ” and 
Mr. Tillery says, “ The greatest success in Strawberry-growing in dry seasons 
can only be obtained by watering well, and mulching afterwards to retain 
moisture.” To these assertions 1 quite assent. One, however, of the grand 
wards in the key of success, as regards new plantations, is to get them in early, 
so as to be established before winter sets in. In hot seasons, like the last and 
present one, both the worked and new plantations require much water. I have 
had two men employed this week (preceding September 17th), in watering 
Roses and Strawberries. Success next year, in both cases, mainly depends on 
this. September is the autumnal root-making month ; but how can plants 
make roots in dry soils, in such weather as we have had, without a deal of 
water to cool the land, which here is as hot as a fryingpan ? The market 
gardeners near London grow Strawberries on such a large scale, that they 
cannot water them; but there is no excuse for small holders. Peaches, also, 
both under glass and out of doors, fail for want of -water. The leaves are 
ruined by red 6pider, and the fruit is dwarfed for want of water at the roots. 
Plants take up their food in solution ; but how can they do this when the earth 
is as hot as a salamander, and baked as hard as a Bath brick ? 
As market gardeners cannot water their Strawberry crops, it seems to me 
that they should grow sorts that are so strongly foliaged as to protect the roots. 
They want good croppers, and such as bear all large fruit, or heavy crops of 
saleable fruit. Moreover, they want sorts that run plentifully and early, and 
are quickly established. I recommend, to such as do not know them, 
Sir Joseph Paxton , early, handsome, all large fruit, and a most vigorous 
plant. 
Eclipse , early, handsome, good, and excellent plant. The fruit is medium¬ 
sized and abundant. 
Rivers’s Eliza , delicious, a most abundant bearer, medium-sized; sure 
cropper, and the best specimen of a Strawberry plant. 
Empress Eugenie , fine cropper, all large fruit; stalwart plant. 
Ne Phis Ultra (De Jonghe), hardy, strong plant, great cropper, all large 
fruit; fair flavour. 
Frogmore Late Pine, large, handsome, delicious, late, a sure setter, great 
cropper, all large fruit; fine strong plant. 
Wonderful , great cropper, delicious, all large fruit, late; hardy plant. 
These are all firm, or tolerably firm. Of old sorts, superseded here by the 
