266 Vegetable Reproduction, etc. [June, 



hemp and spinach, may serve as examples ; for they frequently become 

 single-housed, producing staminate and pistillate blossoms on the same 

 plant. Our Indian corn, which, as all know, is single-housed, when 

 luxuriantly growing, brings forth among its staminate blossoms some 

 pistillates, which produce those imperfect grains often seen on the flagg 

 of the corn, commonly called suckers. Another striking example of 

 this we find in the family of the Cucurbitaceae (Melons, Cucumbers, 

 etc.,) which are single-housed plants; and where, if the staminate 

 flowers are cut off, the plants frequently develop hermaphrodite 

 flowers. Again, some individuals among the double-housed plants are 

 occasionally observed to change their sex at once ; and of which it has 

 frequently been noted that the same tree will be one year male and 

 another year female ; this phenomenon has frequently been observed 

 in the genus Juniperus. 



And, in conclusion, I must be permitted to ask how is it, in this par- 

 ticular now, with that dear, delightful and aristocratic plant, the Straw- 

 herryf Owing to high culture and innumerable crossings, it has run 

 into endless varieties which exhibit a great difference in their sexual 

 characteristics. If we buy either one or the other of these new and 

 much vaunted varieties, especially a pistillate, are we assured that it 

 will always preserve its female character without variableness or shadow 

 of turning? I most confidently believe that if any one trusts uncon- 

 ditionally to the perpetuity of the same sex in the same strawberry 

 plant, he will be egregiously deceived. Changes of locality as to climate 

 and soil, will often make their influences felt ; and frequently the 

 flowers of younger plants will appear hermaphrodite. McAvoy's Supe- 

 rior, at least, exhibits this changing tendency ; a striking example of 

 which can be seen, most unmistakably, in this vicinity — so unmistak- 

 ably, as would be sufficient to convince any unbeliever of the error of 

 his wavs. 



ti ■» % • * 



Western Giants in their Slumbers. — The Burlington, Iowa, State 

 Gazette states, that while some workmen were engaged, on the preceding 

 evening, in excavating for the cellar of Gov. Grimes' new building, on 

 the corner of Main and Valley streets, they came upon an arched vault 

 ten feet square, which on being opened, was found to contain eight human 

 skeletons of gigantic proportions. The walls of the vault were about 14 

 inches thick, well laid up with cement or some other indestructible mor- 

 tar. The vault is about six feet deep from the base of the arch. The 

 skeletons are in a gooil state of preservation, and we venture to say are 

 the largest human remains ever found, being a little over eight feet long ! 



