280 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Aprit, 1898. 
THE MEXICAN STRAWBERRY. 
We have just received from Mr. S. L. Watkins, of Grizzly Flats, the 
following account of the Mexican Strawberry mentioned in our last number :— 
The Mexican or Arizona (S),.—A berry of surprising merit, wondrous 
beauty, and luxuriant plant growth, is the Mexican Strawberry. It is a rapid 
and beautiful grower, with clean, healthy foliage of a dark-green colour. ‘The 
young plants of this variety need no petting, but take hold and grow rapidly. 
Generally these young plants perfect a heavy crop the first season. A strange 
peculiarity of the Mexican Strawberry is that it will yield fruit for five or six 
years without renewing, as against three or four crops with other varieties. It 
gives heavy crops all through the season; in warm climates it yields two crops 
aseason. The berries are larger than those of any other variety cultivated at 
the present day. I have allthe new and old varieties, embracing about 300 
kinds, and I have a good chance to determine their value. The Marshall, 
. Monarch of the West, Great American, Sharpless, Enormous, Australian 
Crimson, La France, Glen Mary, Brandywine, Rival Hudson, Enhance, &e., are 
among the larger berries, but the Mexican is better than any of these because 
it will average two quarts of fruit to the plant, and in exceptional cases three 
and even four quarts. he plant itself is almost faultless, attaining a height of 
about 16 inches, with dense, spreading dark-green leaves, which greatly protect the 
blossoms from frost. Last year the cold weather destroyed nine-tenths of the 
flowers on other plants, but the Mexican pulled through in splendid shape and 
gave an enormous crop. _ The fruit is slightly conical in shape, and is brilliantly 
coloured with a fine lustre. In flavour it is rich, sweet, aromatic, and altogether 
delicious. It is a wonderful market berry. 
The price of these plants in the United States and Canada is ls. 53d. per 
dozen, or 6s. 3d. per 100. 
