284 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Sept. 
fill in between the rows, and the old rows demolished, 
new ones being thus obtained without planting. 
The soil should be kept rich by yearly additions of 
manure in autumn. 
The plants are usually set out in spring, and at the 
end of summer, or early in autumn. 
Varieties. —The following are among the best. 
'Ihe figures were in all cases taken accurately from 
specimens of fair size, under ordinary good cultivation; 
the common error of representing larger than reality 
being strictly avoided. 
Duke of Kent. —The earliest of all strawberries, and 
valuable on this account. 
The fruit is small, being 
rarely more than three- 
quarters of an inch in dia¬ 
meter, varying in shape 
from roundish or round- 
ovate, to long-ovate with 
a neck; seeds sunk in cavi¬ 
ties with intervals usually 
sharply ridged. Color, 
bright scarlet, becoming 
dark scarlet. Flavor, a 
clear rich acid, and good. 
A good bearer. Many 
judges regard the flavor of 
Duke of Rent.-{Fig. 78.) this strawberry as equal to 
that of any other variety, but its quality appears to be 
underrated on account of its small size, the latter being 
the chief drawback on its value, and unfitting it for the 
market. It ripens the latter part of 5 mo., (May.) 
Large Early Scarlet. —This variety ripens a very 
few days later than the Duke 
of Kent, and is about twice 
its size, and equal in flavor. 
It is probably the most valua¬ 
ble of all very early straw¬ 
berries. Fruit round-ovate, 
sometimes very slightly neck¬ 
ed; calyx on the ripe fruit 
always showing the perfectly 
formed and adhering stamens; 
surface slightly irregular, the 
seeds often deeply sunk in ca¬ 
vities, with sharp projecting 
intervals. Sometimes the fruit 
is slightly flattened towards 
the stem. In thick beds, the 
color is bright scarlet, but 
dark scarlet when growing 
more thinly. Flavor rich and 
fine, much resembling that of 
the Duke of Kent, but with 
the addition ofajust percepti¬ 
ble shade of astringency. The 
Large Early Scarlet.-{Fig. 79 ) flowers are always perfect, 
and it is an abundant bearer. 
Ross Phoenix. —Its large size, fine flavor, perfect har- 
. Ross Phoenix.—{Fig. 80.) 
diness, and great productiveness, may perhaps entitle 
this variety to rank as high, if not higher, than any 
other strawberry of large size for the northern states; 
though a further and more general trial may be needed. 
It was raised in 1837, by Alexander Ross, of Hudson / 
N. Y. Fruit very large; with common culture, four of 
the berries usually weigh an ounce, and they are about 
an inch and a quarter in length, and not far from the 
same in width. Form generally more or less cox- 
combed or flattened, but not always, varying considera¬ 
bly, and with the surface more or less uneven. Seeds 
numerous. Color, dark crimson. Flavor and texture 
very fine for a large variety. It ripens about the 
middle of 6 mo., (June.) 
Hovey’s Seedling. —This is one of the finest of all the 
large strawberries, 
and is usually con¬ 
sidered as perfectly 
hardy for the nor¬ 
thern states. Several 
cultivators, however, 
in Western N. York 
have had their plants 
injured or destroyed 
by winter, especially 
on moist or heavy 
soils, when the Ear¬ 
ly Scarlets and Ross 
Phoenix have entire¬ 
ly escaped. Hence 
a covering of straw 
or evergreens in win¬ 
ter has been found 
useful, though in 
most cases they may 
be unnecessary. Fruit very large, roundish conical, 
regular in form, sometimes with a very slight neck. 
Color, dark red. Texture and flavor very fine for a 
large variety. Ripens about the middle of 6 mo., 
(June.) The stamens are small and imperfect, and 
hence it becomes much more productive if planted near 
some variety with perfect stamens, as the Early Scarlet 
or Ross Phoenix, or by the occasional intermixture of 
rows of these productive varieties. It thus becomes an 
abundant bearer. The fruit, with common good culture, 
weighs about a quarter of an ounce, and is about an 
inch and a quarter in diameter. 
Prolific Hautbois. —This is considered as the only 
variety of the Hautbois 
worth cultivating.— 
Most persons will pro¬ 
bably regard it as infe¬ 
rior to the sorts already 
named, though some 
esteem its peculiar, 
rich, and musky flavor, 
as much better than 
that of any other va¬ 
riety. Fruit large, 
ovate-conical, light 
purplish red at first, 
becoming dark pur¬ 
plish red; surface ra¬ 
ther regular, seeds 
projecting. Weight 
about one-sixth of an 
ounce. The leaves are 
Prolific Hautbois. —(Fig. 82.) G f pale green, and of 
large size, and the whole plant of luxuriant growth. 
This variety is a great bearer, and ripens about the 
middle of the sixth month. 
STEEPS OF AMMONIA FOR GRAIN. 
We prepared in 1844, a solution of the sulphate of 
ammonia from the carbonate, according to the direc¬ 
tions found in the new series of the Cultivator, vol. 1, 
page 281. 
In the solution we put one bushel of wheat, one-half 
of which soaked ten hours, and was sown October 5th s 
and germinated fairly. 
In the following spring it had the appearance of being 
