18 
THE STRAWBERRY. 
By W. J. ALLEN. 
(Continued from last issue.) 
— Irrigation. — 
It is impossible to grow strawberr.es to 
perfection without. plenty of water. Ip 
come districts there may be sufficient 
rain to mature them properly, which is 
the best method, as the plants and berries 
do not come ia contact with the water ; 
Put, I fear, few places in New South 
Wales are so blessed. When the soil 
becomés-nt all dry, the beds should receive 
a thorotigh- good soaking, either by tlood- 
ing gr crouning water through furrows 
previonsly- nade for the purpose. If 
flooding is extended, the vine sh uld be 
platited:on: slight ridses, so that the crown 
of the*plant shall not be under the water 
fog any, length of time. | Ou no account 
should the svil be allowed to become hard 
oriecdked: after applying water, If the 
surface is covered with a*malch this will 
keep the soil free ; but if there is nothing 
in Shei bed; “shalldw cultivation > thust 
follow immediatly the groun! is dry 
enough for working. 
keeping the beds covered with a mulch 
during the dry and fruiting seisons. 
#42 Penkectiind Imperfect Blooming 
Varieties, — 
The blossoms of the strawberry are 
divided iuto two classes—-Ist. bisexual or 
perfect, aud 2nd, pistillate or imperfect. 
The. former’ contain stamens or male 
organs and pistils or female orgaus, hence 
are called bisexual or perfect ; while the 
fatter contain pistils or female organs 
only. the 
beginner to ascertain which. are perfect 
It is, therefore, well for 
and whith imperfect before plinting, in 
order that his plantation may not be 
limited toimperfect kinds. Some se sons 
one row of a perfect blooming: variety 
will, furnish +suffivient pollen for six or 
eight rows of imperfect bloomers, but it 
will not do so every season, and when it 
does not, small rough berries are produced, 
More than one variety should be planted 
in the field to furnish the pollen, and 
these shoud b'oom at different seasons, 
I would recommend - 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
so that early, medium, and late varieties 
may be properly fertilised. It is well 
known that pistillate varieties when 
properly fertilised, yield the largest crops 
of fruit ; but when varieties are planted 
as fertilisers, they should be of a kind 
producing berries of about the same size 
as do the imperfect blooming varieties. 
To ensure a due proportion of plants 
bearing perfect blossoms, careful nureery- 
men usually select strawberry plants indis- 
criminately. Thus a purchaser may obtain 
among a selection of five vigorous root- 
lings some plants that appear to be inferior 
but are, nevertheless, necessary. 
— Varieties. — 
There are a great number of varieties 
of strawberries in cultivation. Most of 
them have some special point worthy of 
consideration, but it is only by experi- 
menting, by selection and keeping in 
touch with what other growersare doing, 
that we are guided in deciding what vari- 
In;choosing kinds for home 
include a suflicient 
eties to grow, 
use it is well to 
number to provide a succession through- 
out the season, and, therefore, as the fruit 
“is not iitended for market, the quality of 
firmness may be sacrificed to that of 
flavor. Fruit of regular form, medium 
to large sized and well colored, is always 
most sought after, whether for home use 
or market, A first-class strawberry 
should embody the following character- 
istics:— ° 
Fruit 
uniform, texture fine, flesh rich and firm, 
with a moderate amount of acid and with 
A longitudinal cut 
The seeds 
large, of regular forn and 
an aromatic flavor. 
should show no hollow space. 
should be deeply imbedded and the calyx 
set high so as to be easily detached. Tho 
plant should be hardy, vigorous, and 
strong, with perfect ‘ flowers, ie., self: 
fe:tilising, a prolific bearer, with stalks 
of sufficient length to keep the fruit out 
of the dirt. 
The following list comprises those 
varieties which at the present time are 
mostly grown for the best paying 
results:— d 
Aurle—A Queensland strawberry, 
valuable for its extreme earliness, great 
productivenes, and robustness, It arrives 
June, 1910. 
in Sydney early in July. The fruit is a 
great favourite in the Sydney market, 
not only for its size but-for its delicious 
flavour. It is large, uneven, red in colcr, 
glossy, the plant healthy, roots long and 
abundant, penetrating the soil deeply and 
withstanding the drought well. 
Annetta.—A Queensland variety, heavy 
and constant cropper, with plenty of 
foliage to ,rot ct the fruit. 
Koyal Sovereign. An English variety 
belonging to the British Queen section’ 
Fruit very large, oblong, conical ; colour 
a bright, glossy scarlet, and ripens early, 
Flesh, firm, juicy, with a rich flavour 
similar to that of the British Queen 
Pliuts strong and very politific. 
Captain —One of the very hardiest var- 
particularly good for dry 
will withstand the drought 
Fruit large, ovate and 
splendid flavour. A very 
prolific bearer. Ripens early. Skin pa’e 
red, flesh pale, firm, with a brisk, pleasant 
flavour 
Noble (Laxton’s). 
cultivation. 
leties, and 
districts ; 
When others fail. 
regular of 
One of the largest 
strawberr.es in Heavy 
cropper, but nojgood forsbipping, Rather 
soft, and bruisy. 
Sunbeam.—\ hardy plant ; fruit of 
medium size and good flavour, Plants 
shade fruit well. 
Melba.—F ruit large, brilliant red, and of 
the best flavour. It will bear good crops 
from beginning November to May, One 
of the most profitable to grow. Runners 
can be left, and start bearing as soon as 
rooted, making a solid bed. 
Oreswell’s Seedling,—An excellent, hardy 
variety, free from disease, Good cropper. 
Trollope’s Victoria.— A recently intro, 
duced English variety, and one of the 
best. Fruit large, roundish, ovate and 
regular in outline ; skin deep bright red ; 
flesh pale red, tender, juicy, with a 
pleasant, slightly sub-acid flavor; plant 
vigorous, and bears freely and regularly, 
and can be depended on more than any 
other kind, as it will adapt itself well to 
various soils; it ripens early and comes in 
immediately after ‘Edith’ and ‘Marguer- 
ite.’ 
Edith.—An excellent and very popular 
variety. The fruit is large, well colored 
and has a rich, pleasant, slightly sub-acid 
