Chap. LVI.
Fragaria. Strawberries.
| 1 | Cucumis longus vulgaris. The ordinary Cowcumber. |
| 2 | Cucumis Hispanicus. The long yellow Spanish Cowcumber. |
| 3 | Melo vulgaris. The ordinary Melon. |
| 4 | Melo maximus optimus. The greatest Muske Melon. |
| 5 | Pepo. The Pompion. |
| 6 | Fragari vulgaris. Common Strawberries. |
| 7 | Fragari Bohemica maxima. The great Bohemia Strawberries. |
| 8 | Fragari aculeata. The prickly Strawberry. |
There be diuers sorts of Strawberries, whereof those that are noursed vp in Gardens or Orchards I intend to giue you the knowledge in this place, and leaue the other to a fitter; yet I must needs shew you of one of the wilde sorts, which for his strangenesse is worthy of this Garden: And I must also enforme you, that the wilde Strawberry that groweth in the Woods is our Garden Strawberry, but bettered by the soyle and transplanting.
The Strawberry hath his leaues closed together at the first springing vp, which afterwards spread themselues into three diuided parts or leaues, euery one standing vpon a small long foote-stalke, greene on the vpperside, grayish vnderneath, and snipped or dented about the edges; among which rise vp diuers small stalkes, bearing foure or fiue flowers at the tops, consisting of fiue white round pointed leaues, somewhat yellowish in the bottome, with some yellow threads therein; after which come the fruit, made of many small graines set together, like vnto a small Mulberry or Raspis, reddish when it is ripe, and of a pleasant winy taste, wherein is enclosed diuers small blackish seede; the roote is reddish and long, with diuers small threads at it, and sendeth forth from the head thereof long reddish strings running vpon the ground, which shoot forth leaues in many places, whereby it is much encreased.
The white Strawberry differeth not from the red, but in the colour of the fruite, which is whiter then the former when it is thorough ripe, enclining to rednesse.
The greene Strawberry likewise differeth not, but that the fruit is green on all sides when it is ripe, saue on that side the Sun lyeth vpon it, and there it is somewhat red.
The Virginia Strawberry carryeth the greatest leafe of any other, except the Bohemian, but scarce can one Strawberry be seene ripe among a number of plants; I thinke the reason thereof to be the want of skill, or industry to order it aright. For the Bohemia, and all other Strawberries will not beare kindly, if you suffer them to grow with many strings, and therefore they are still cut away.
There is another very like vnto this, that Iohn Tradescante brought with him from Brussels long agoe, and in seuen yeares could neuer see one berry ripe on all sides, but still the better part rotten, although it would euery yeare flower abundantly, and beare very large leaues.
The Bohemia Strawberry hath beene with vs but of late dayes, but is the goodliest and greatest, both for leafe next to the Virginian, and for beauty farre surpassing all; for some of the berries haue beene measured to bee neere fiue inches about. Master Quester the Postmaster first brought them ouer into our Country, as I vnderstand, but I know no man so industrious in the carefull planting and bringing them to perfection in that plentifull maner, as Master Vincent Sion who dwelt on the Banck side, neer the old Paris garden staires, who from seuen rootes, as hee affirmed to me, in one yeare and a halfe, planted halfe an acree of ground with the increase from them, besides those he gaue away to his friends, and with him I haue seene such, and of that bignesse before mentioned.