the Strawberry and the Nettle (No. 2) deserves
a passing note. It was the common opinion in his day that plants were
affected by the neighbourhood of other plants to such an extent that
they imbibed each other's virtues and faults. Thus sweet flowers were
planted near fruit trees, with the idea of improving the flavour of the
fruit, and evil-smelling trees, like the Elder, were carefully cleared
away from fruit trees, lest they should be tainted. But the Strawberry
was supposed to be an exception to the rule, and was supposed to thrive
in the midst of "evil communications" without being corrupted. Preachers
and emblem-writers naturally seized upon this: "In tilling our gardens
we cannot but admire the fresh innocence and purity of the Strawberry,
because although it creeps along the ground, and is continually crushed
by serpents, lizards, and other venomous reptiles, yet it does not
imbibe the slightest impression of poison, or the smallest malignant
quality, a true sign that it has no affinity with poison. And so it is
with human virtues," &c. "In conversation take everything peacefully, no
matter what is said or done. In this manner you may remain innocent
amidst the hissing of serpents, and, as a little Strawberry, you will
not suffer contamination from slimy things creeping near you."--ST.
FRANCIS DE SALES.

I need only add that the Strawberry need not be confined to the kitchen
garden, as there are some varieties which make very good carpet plants,
such as the variegated Strawberry, which, however, is very capricious in
its variegation; the double Strawberry, which bears pretty white
button-like flowers; and the Fragaria lucida from California, which has
very bright shining leaves, and was, when first introduced, supposed to
be useful in crossing with other species; but I have not heard that this
has been successfully effected.

FOOTNOTES:

[279:1] "Mrs. Somerville made for me a delicate outline sketch of what
is called Othello's house in Venice, and a beautifully coloured copy of
his shield surmounted by the Doge's cap, and bearing three Mulberries
for device--proving the truth of the assertion that the _Otelli del
Moro_ were a noble Venetian folk, who came originally from the Morea,
whose device was the Mulberry, the growth of that country, and showing
how curious a jumble Shakespeare has made both of name and device in
calling him a _Moor_, and embroidering his arms on his handkerchief as
_Strawberries_."--