182 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
March  4,  1897. 
STRAWBERRIES  AND  THEIR  CULTURE. 
The  Strawberry  is  very  distinct  from  other  Roseworts,  as  its 
seeds  are  borne  on  the  outside,  which  is  the  opposite  of  the  Fig, 
which  is  a  Nettle  wort ;  in  fact,  a  Strawberry  resembles  a  Fig 
turned  inside  out.  Cultivated  Strawberries  have  originated  from 
our  wild  wood  Strawberry,  the  Hautbois,  the  Scarlet,  the  Pine,  and 
the  Chilian  Strawberry.  All  the  species  are  much  alike,  and  are 
perhaps  forms  of  the  same  plant,  as  the  difference  is  mainly  in  the 
leaves  and  flavour. 
Strawberries  are  propagated  by  seeds  and  runners.  Seeds  are 
only  employed  for  the  sake  of  raising  new  varieties,  as  Straw¬ 
berries  cannot  be  relied  on  to  reproduce  the  parent.  Mr.  Knight 
was  the  first  in  this  country  to  raise  cross-fertilised  Strawberries, 
and  in  the  year  1818  he  had  over  400  seedling  varieties.  Many 
other  persons  have  followed  in  his  footsteps.  Mr.  Bradley  was  the 
raiser  of  that  most  popular  variety  Sir  J.  Paxton  ;  Mr.  Laxton 
raised  Noble,  Latest  of  All,  Sensation,  Competitor,  Monarch, 
Leader,  and  Royal  Sovereign  ;  and  Mr.  Allan  raised  Lord  Suffield, 
Grunton  Park,  and  Empress  of  India,  all  first  class  either  in 
appearance  or  flavour  with  one  exception . 
The  Strawberry  rapidly  propagates  itself  by  plantlets  produced 
on  runners,  and  many  methods  are  resorted  to  in  securing  them 
for  outside  planting  and  for  forcing.  One  of  the  quickest  and  best 
methods  is  to  peg  the  young  plants  on  the  runners  into  3-inch  pots, 
and  plant  as  soon  as  rooted  in  well  prepared  ground  made  firm. 
If  a  crop  of  fruit  is  wanted  the  next  year,  plant  not  later  than  the 
first  week  of  August.  Plant  the  early  varieties  in  a  south  border, 
J ohn  Raskin,  Noble,  Royal  Sovereign,  Scarlet  Queen,  and  Yicomtesse 
Hericart  de  Thury  ripening  in  the  order  named.  Noble  dwindles 
away  with  us  after  the  third  winter,  and  is,  therefore,  cleared  off 
after  fruiting  a  second  time. 
For  main  crop  Royal  Sovereign,  Dr.  Hogg,  Sir  J.  Paxton, 
President,  Due  de  Malakoff,  and  British  Queen  are  free  croppers 
with  fine  flavour  ;  Laxton’s  Monarch  and  Leader  promise  well,  as 
weak  plants  put  out  late  in  the  autumn  of  1895  fruited  well  last 
year.  Competitor,  though  an  immense  cropper,  is  wanting  in 
flavour,  and  the  fruit  melts  before  it  is  ripe  if  damp  weather 
prevails.  It  is  not  suited  for  our  climate. 
For  late  use  there  is  none  better  than  Latest  of  All ;  its  name, 
however,  is  a  misnomer,  as  there  are  other*  later.  It  is  grand  in 
size  of  berry,  cropping,  and  flavour.  Lord  Suffield  and  Waterloo 
are  also  very  fine  ;  by  planting  some  of  each  on  a  north  border  we 
have  Strawberries  in  August.  To  succeed  those  keep  after  forcing 
some  of  Noble  and  Yicomtesse  Hericart  de  Thury,  which  harden 
in  a  cool  frame,  and  at  the  end  of  May  plant  on  a  south  border,  or 
better,  at  the  bottom  of  a  wall,  never  letting  the  plants  want  for 
water.  Strawberries  may  then  be  had  during  September,  and  with 
a  few  lights  to  cover  the  plants,  in  October,  when  they  will  be  much 
prized  for  dessert. 
Forcing. — Peg  the  plantlets  into  3-inch  pots  filled  with  a  com¬ 
post  of  loam  broken  fine  and  horse  manure,  and  when  well  rooted 
transfer  to  5  and  6-inch  pots.  The  potting  material  may  consist  of 
loam  five  parts,  borse  droppings  one  part,  and  a  good  dusting  of 
bonemeal ;  if  the  loam  is  heavy  add  one  part  of  leaf  mould.  Some 
cultivators,  after  severing  from  the  parent  plants,  place  the  3-inch 
pots  behind  a  north  wall,  and  likewise  the  plants  after  they 
are  placed  in  the  fruiting  pots.  Except  the  weather  be  very  hot 
little  is  gained,  but,  on  the  contrary,  time  is  lost  by  that  practice. 
Syringe  the  plants  well  night  and  morning  till  the  middle  of  Sep¬ 
tember,  when  the  nights  here  begin  to  get  cold  and  a  touch  of  frost 
is  not  uncommon.  , 
When  the  roots  are  working  freely  round  the  pot  weak  liquid 
manure  will  plump  up  the  crowns  ;  artificial  manure  also  helps  if 
used  during  August  or  September.  Strong  plants  potted  early 
often  throw  up  flower  spikes  during  September,  all  of  which  cut 
out  as  soon  as  seen,  except  you  want  a  few  ripe  fruit*  for  Christmas, 
in  which  case  house  the  plants  as  soon  as  fruit  is  set. 
Store  the  plants  in  cold  frames  for  the  winter,  or  till  wanted 
for  forcing.  Our  first  batch  gees  in  early  in  January.  The  plants 
are  plunged  in  a  bed  of  leaves  in  an  early  vinery  having  a  tempera¬ 
ture  of  about  50°.  After  the  flower  »pikes  are  a  couple  of  inches 
long  the  plants  are  removed  to  shelves  nearer  the  glass.  When 
the  plants  are  growing  freely  give  a  pinch  of  artificial  manure  to 
each  pot.  Guano  I  find  good,  though  some  persons  prefer  blood 
manure.  Liquid  manure  is  given  at  alternate  waterings  till  the 
flowers  commence  opening,  when  another  dressing  of  artificial 
manure  is  applied.  An  occasional  supply  of  clear  water  helps  to 
keep  the  soil  sweet.  Soot  and  sheep  manure  make  the  best  liquid. 
Pigeon  manure  i»  good,  but  dangerous  unless  used  weak. 
We  syringe  the  plants  twice  a  day  till  the  flowers  commence 
opening,  then  cease  till  the  fruit  is  set,  when  the  syringing  is 
resumed  till  the  fruit  commences  colouring.  If  green  fly  or  red 
•pider  show  we  fumigate  with  Murray’s  vapouri*er,  and  find  that 
no  injury  i*  done  to  the  delicate  flowers. 
The  varieties  which  force  best  with  u»  are  Noble,  which  sets 
freely  no  matter  how  early  forced,  and  gives  splendid  berries  of  a 
fine  colour,  many  being  3  ozs.  in  weight,  and  from  four  to  eight  on  a 
plant.  Royal  Sovereign  is  of  better  flavour,  an  equally  free  setter, 
but  the  berries  are  smaller.  Dr.  Hogg  also  does  well,  giving  berries 
as  fine  as  Noble,  a  little  pale  in  colour,  but  excellent  in  flavour. 
President  and  Scarlet  Queen  set  freely  ;  flavour  and  colour  good, 
but  the  berries  smaller  than  those  mentioned.  Yicomtesse  Hericart 
de  Thury  and  John  Ruskin  are  excellent  early  forcers,  and  the 
fruits  of  good  flavour,  but  much  smaller  than  the  three  varieties 
first  named.  For  market  Noble  and  Royal  Sovereign  are  by  far  the 
best,  and  no  Strawberries  that  I  know  carry  the  weight  of  those  two 
combined  with  appearance. 
Do  not  let  the  temperature  at  night  exceed  60°  till  after  the 
fruit  is  set,  when  it  may  range  between  65°  and  70°  if  the  fruit 
is  wanted  ripe  quickly.  By  removing  the  plants  to  a  cooler 
and  more  airy  house  for  a  couple  of  days  before  the  fruit  is  gathered 
the  flavour  is  much  improved. — W.  T.,  Ireland. 
FLOWERING  TREES  AND  SHRUBS. 
( Continued  from  page  154.) 
Deciduous. 
Some  of  the  many  species  and  varieties  of  Pyrus  have  during 
recent  years  been  freely  planted  for  ornamental  purposes,  and 
right  well  have  they  repaid  the  attention  bestowed  upon  them,  for 
not  only  are  they  beautiful  when  in  flower  but  also  when  their 
miniature  fruits  are  ripe.  The  Siberian  Crab  is  a  good  example 
of  a  Pyrus,  having  both  these  attractions.  The  flowers  greatly 
resemble  those  of  the  cultivated  Apple,  and  the  brightly  coloured 
red  and  yellow  fruits  are  in  the  autumn  conspicuous  and  tempting 
in  appearance.  Some  individuals  profess  to  like  the  taste  of  these 
ihowy  Crabs,  but  I  fancy  few  retain  the  liking  long.  P.  floribunda 
and  floribunda  atrosanguinea  form  extremely  handsome  bushe*  or 
half-standards. 
When  grown  in  a  sunny  position  the  long  slender  shoots  are 
completely  studded  with  rose  and  red  flowers  ;  small  fruits  are  also 
freely  produced.  No  one  can  fail  to  be  delighted  with  these  two. 
There  are  several  varieties  of  Pyrus  malus.  Three  of  the  best 
are  Eli«e  Rathe  (pendulous),  John  Downie,  and  prsecox.  P.  domes- 
tica,  although  not  particularly  showy  as  far  as  the  flowers  -are 
concerned,  is  worthy  of  being  grown  on  account  of  the  distinctness 
of  the  leaves,  which  are  broad,  glaucous  green  on  the  upper  side, 
and  underneath  covered  with  white  cotton- like  fibre  or  down. 
P.  spectabilis  grows  quickly  and  forms  a  handsome  tree,  the 
flowers  are  large  and  showy,  sometime*  pale  red  in  colour,  at  others 
almost  white  with  a  red  tinge. 
Ia  Rhus  Cotinus  (Smoke  Plant)  we  have  a  novel  and  showy 
shrub,  which  produces  pale  purplish  flower*  in  July,  and  when  the 
flowering  is  over  the  long  hairy  pedicels  form  another  attraction. 
The  value  of  Ribes  sanguineum  for  growing  in  the  form  of  a 
buih  is  widely  known.  To  my  mind  the  best  position  for  it  is  an 
open  one  on  grass.  It  tben  grows  to  a  large  size,  and  the  drooping 
racemes  of  deep  rose-coloured  flowers  are  shown  off  to  advantage. 
R.  s.  atro-rubens  produces  flowers  much  deeper  in  colour  than 
those  of  the  older  form,  and  glutinosum  bears  larger  racemes  of 
pale  rose  flowers  ;  album  is  worth  growing  for  the  sake  of  variety, 
although  the  colour  is  rather  cream  than  white. 
The  various  specie*  and  varieties  of  Robinias  are  extremely 
handsome,  the  Pea-shaped  flowers  being  produced  in  pendulous 
racemes,  and  old  trees  are  quite  picturesque  in  appearance,  even 
when  the  leaves  have  fallen.  R.  pseud- Acacia  (Locu*t  Tree)  is 
perhaps  the  most  widely  known  among  them,  and  many  an  old 
garden  contains  a  fine  specimen  of  it  which  in  April  or  May 
unfolds  its  countless  white  blossoms.  R.  hispida  forms  a  pretty 
dwarf  standard,  and  should  if  possible  be  planted  in  an  isolated 
position,  as  it  grows  so  slowly  that  if  placed  in  a  shrubbery  the 
other  occupants  —  if  not  carefully  watched — overrun  it.  The 
flowers  are  of  a  fine  deep  rose  colour,  and  are  produced  so  freely 
that  it  is  a  good  plan  to  remove  some  of  them  to  allow  those  left 
to  be  seen  to  advantage.  This  Acacia  is  not  often  »een,  and  I  can 
’strongly  recommend  it  to  the  notice  of  all.  R.  neo-mexicana  is 
a  recent  introduction  which  is  said  to  be  the  handsomest  of  the 
family. 
Among  Spirmas  Anthony  Waterer,  ariasfolia,  Douglasi,  pruni- 
folia  flore-pleno,  and  Thunbergi  are  some  of  the  best.  Staphylea 
colchica  (fig.  39)  is  a  deliciously  scented  white-flowering  shrub, 
which  I  have  known  for  fifteen  years,  and  during  that  time  I  have 
only  met  with  it  in  two  private  gardens.  This  is,  I  think,  a  matter 
for  regret,  a*  I  feel  sure  that  all  who  see  it  in  flower  will  be 
delighted  with  it. 
