Discussion. 35 



points that go to make up a good strawberry. I then com- 

 menced to use Durand Seedlings in making my crosses, but 

 among them all, none did any good except the Great Ameri- 

 can, and they threatened once to be a failure. I used them 

 because of their size and beauty of form. I presume most 

 of you have had it. Mr. Durand's strawberries are raised 

 for prize strawberries. They are literally grown in manure. 

 If he ever had one that grew three mches in diameter it 

 was never seen. I have some very large ones, some that 

 might measure nine inches around. I can tell you where to 

 secure any original varieties is in making the crosses 

 properly. You must have big strawberries to start with, 

 and these big strawberries generally come from sprouts, 

 and most of the big strawberries are non-productive. I 

 then crossed another gentleman's seeds, who, when seventy- 

 one years old, went into raising seedlings. I used all his 

 seedlings. I got my best start from the Sharpless, which I 

 have had eight or ten years. It is the mother of the Jessie, 

 and of several other very fine varieties that I have. I have 

 found it a very difficult matter to get quality as well size. 

 If you could ask me questions I could answer them, I can't 

 go to work systematically and tell you about it. 



Mr. Stickney — In the production of the Jessie what was 

 the manner in which you worked ? 



Mr. Loudon — These people who are originating straw- 

 berries by fertilizers are a humbug. The germ in the calyx 

 of the strawberry is closed. A few of the first blossoms 

 come out and they fertilize the strawberries in the germ 

 before they open. Now it is a difficult matter to get the 

 start of nature and help them on their way. I used to do it 

 but you have to open the calyx to do it. Take these var- 

 ieties I use for crosses. I set six plants of different var- 

 ieties, each for one particular quality. By using that 

 method of propagation they do their own fertilizing. Start 

 them in hot beds so there is no danger from outside. The 

 pollen can be carried sixty or eighty rods or even miles. 

 Birds will carry the pollen. In strawberries you will not 

 find any chance seedlings that are good for anything. By 

 having a strawberry for size I have set the Great Amer- 



