12 
THE FLORIST. 
Oliver Twist (Fellowes), a large striped fancy, without coarseness, but of fine 
form, crimson purple, on a blush white ground ; very constant. 
Papilio (Perry), buff, striped with crimson, full size, and appeared very 
constant. 
Queen (Rawlings), a light or faintly-striped kind, of the most perfect form ; 
requires more marking. ,. ,. . 
Rosy Morn (Barnes), red, with faint tips of white, the latter not being distinct 
enough; good form. , . , „ . 
Village Bride , Favourite , Mrs. Seacole , and Tiger , are four striped Fancies, the 
best of which will make the number we have described to be a dozen. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
I HAVE read an amusing article in your Florist of 1857, in which 
“ wan thing ” is recommended and illustrated. I have seen the 
“ bunch of Grapes” described in the “ Chronicles of a Small Garden,” 
and also the consequences of such “ forced ambition ” on the other 
inmates of the greenhouse. I think, however, out of doors we may do 
mere than “ wan thing.” I have endeavoured in the last five years to 
do two things well, viz., grow Roses and Strawberries; and I think I 
have succeeded. 
With regard to Strawberries, I will observe that they require, as to 
soil, manure, and plenty of water in hot weather, the same treatment 
as Roses. The preparation of the soil is correctly laid down by 
“ J. Me D.,” in page 297 of the Florist for 1856. 
My chief reason for writing this is to recommend some of the best 
Strawberries out of the number advertised, some of which are puffed off 
under sounding titles at high prices, but which are, many of them, 
not so good as those which may be bought at four shillings per 
hundred. I do nothing in forcing. My brother gardener, who forces 
numerously and variously, speaks highest of Keens’ Seedling, Trol¬ 
lope’s Victoria, and the Black Prince. The finest flavour (laugh who 
will) is, in my opinion, that of the old Hautbois. It is now (the 27th 
of October) in bloom, and has a berry about an inch long, a sample of 
which I send you. I should think it would force early or late. The 
Strawberries which I send you are from runners planted in June this 
year, and they are grown out of doors. [They were smashed to 
pieces, we are sorry to say, when they reached us.] 
The next best Strawberry, in my opinion, is the Rival Queen, raised 
by a clergyman. I tasted this at Mr. Tiley’s, of Bath, together with 
British Queen. It is much like the latter in taste and appearance, 
both as to berries and leaves, but it is sweeter, and is said to be, and 
appeared to me to be, hardier and more free-growing. I bought fifty 
plants at ten shillings, and have planted them by the side of the 
British Queen, with which, as yet, I have been able to do nothing; 
eighty out of one hundred died last winter. It is, however, impossible 
to deny that the British Queen is first-rate in flavour. It will not stand 
wet; I have therefore planted some on a raised platform (like an Aspa¬ 
ragus bed), and some on the fiat; the former being light ground 
impregnated with ashes and manure, and the latter stronger ground 
