300 
PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
There is a considerable interest connected with the name of 
the plant, and much popular error. It is supposed to be called 
Strawberry because the berries have straw laid under them, or 
from an old custom of selling the wild ones strung on straws. 1 
In Shakespeare’s time straw was used for the protection of 
Strawberries, but not in the present fashion— 
“If frost doe continue, take this for a lawe, 
The Strawberies look to be covered with strawe. 
Laid ouerly trim upon crotchis and bows, 
And after uncovered as weather allows.” 
Tusser, December s Husbandry. 
But the name is much more ancient than either of these 
customs. Strawberry in different forms, as Strea-berige, Strea- 
berie-wisan, Streaw-berige, Streaw-berian wisan, Strebe-rilef, 
Strabery, Strebere-wise, is its name in the old English Vocab¬ 
ularies, while it appears first in its present form in a Pictorial 
Vocabulary of the fifteenth century, “ Hoc ffragrum, A ce a 
Strawbery.” What the word really means is pleasantly told by 
a writer in Seeman’s “Journal of Botany,” 1869 : “ How well 
this name indicates the now prevailing practice of English 
gardeners laying straw under the berry in order to bring it to 
perfection, and prevent it from touching the earth, which 
without that precaution it naturally does, and to which it owes 
its German Erdbeere , making us almost forget that in this 
instance ‘ straw ’ has nothing to do with the practice alluded 
to, but is an obsolete past-participle of c to strew,’ in allusion to 
the habit of the plant.” This obsolete word is preserved in 
our English Bibles, “ gathering where thou hast not strawed,” 
“ he strawed it upon the water,” “ straw me with apples ; ” and 
in Shakespeare—■ 
The bottom poison, and the top o’erstrawed 
With sweets. — Venus and Adonis. 
1 “ The wood nymphs oftentimes would busied be, 
And pluck for him the blushing Strawberry, 
Making from them a bracelet on a bent, 
Which for a favour to this swain they sent.” 
Browse’s Brit. Bast., i. 2. 
