the strawberry-tree; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the decandria class of plants.

Species. There are six species of arbutus enumerated by botanical writers; of which the following are the most remarkable. 1. The unedo, or common strawberry-tree. It is a native of Italy, Spain, and also of Ireland; and is now very common in the British gardens. This hath the singular property that its fruit doth not come to perfection till a year after it has flowered; and thus the fruit and flowers are mixed together on the same tree. These trees flower and bear their fruit in the months of October and November; by which means they are great ornaments, the season of most other flowers being then past. Of this species there are several varieties; particularly one with red flowers, which are very beautiful, and may be preserved by inarching or ingrafting them on the common arbutus. These turn purple before they fall off. There is also a variety with double flowers; but these have only two rows of leaves, and bear little fruit, the former are preferable. 2. The adracline, or oriental strawberry-tree, grows naturally in the east, particularly about Magnesia, where it is found in such plenty as to be commonly used for fuel. The leaves are large and oval, serrated while young, but entire after they are two or three years old. The flowers are shaped like those of the common sort, but grow thinly on the branches. The fruit is oval, and of the same colour and consistence with that of the common sort; but the seeds of the adracline are flat, whereas those of the former species are pointed and angular. The largeness of the leaf of the adracline gives it a fine appearance, and renders this species well worthy of cultivation.

Culture. The common arbutus is propagated from seeds; to preserve which it is necessary to bury the fruit, as soon as it is perfectly ripe, in dry sand. They are to be sown about the middle or latter end of March in pots, which ought to be plunged into a moderate hotbed; and, if properly managed, the young plants will be eight or ten inches high before winter. In summer, they will be greatly forwarded by being plunged into an old tan-bed. In the beginning of October, they are to be shaken out of the pots, and the roots carefully separated. They are then to be planted singly in small pots filled with light earth, which should remain during the winter under a common frame, in an old tan-bed. The spring following, they may be plunged into the ground in a sheltered situation, observing to water them frequently in dry weather; but it will be advisable to screen them from frost the following winter, by covering them with mats. This species thrives best in a wet soil, and is seldom hurt by hard winters, though the young and tender branches are often destroyed by frost; but, however dead the trees may appear, they ought always to be suffered to remain till the following summer shows what are living and what are dead.—The adracline must be preserved in pots for three or four years, till they have obtained strength; and may be then planted in a warm situation, and on a dry soil; for this species will not thrive on wet ground.