352 



ON THE IMPROVEJMENT OF SMALL FRUITS. 



probably knows not of." No matter where 

 they caine from, or how they were pro- 

 duced ; here they are, and the public will 

 be able to judge of their qualities in the 

 course of time, if they do not change their 

 character too soon. 



What has been done for the Strawberry? 

 A great deal in England and upon the con- 

 tinent; but, as toe always start from the 

 " climax'" of attainment by our transatlantic 

 brethren, it follows that more has been done 

 here than there. At all events, those who 

 raise seedlings to sell, say so ; and as their 

 statements are, perhaps, altogether disinte- 

 rested, we shall have to believe them. We 

 have seen the time when it was all " silly 

 twattle" to talk about male and female 

 strawberry plants ; but these days have de- 

 parted, and seedlings innumerable are now 

 raised by artificial{l) fecundation. There 

 are several excellent varieties of the Straw- 

 berry in cultivation, quite good enough for 

 most people : still, we want better ; and 

 seeedlings are increasing at a wonderful 

 rate — all named too — and " excellent" in 

 qualit}'. Nothing is easier than to originate 

 tens of thousands of plants from the seed ; 

 but, " are these experiments conducted with 

 any special aim ? Are the new sorts bred 

 with reference to certain desiderata ?" Does 

 the experimenter look to certain results, 

 based upon his efTorts at impregnation, in 

 crossing varieties ? Are the seedlings of- 

 fered to the public, really hybrids ? 



Impregnation is not a process so easily 

 accomplished as some persons would have 

 us think. It requires calculation, sagaci- 

 ty, delicate manipulation, and a sufficient 

 knowledge of the subject, so as not to fail, 

 or to create insignificant varieties. 



If the small fruits have been, and are to 

 be improved, there must be some specific 

 objects presented to the mind for accom- 

 plishment. What these objects were, with 



the growers, wc have no means of judging ; 

 nor do we know what they are. A gentle- 

 man in a western state has raised " choice 

 varieties of new seedling Strawberries, con- 

 fidently recommended to the public as su- 

 perior to any heretofore cultivated." By 

 what process did he raise them ? From 

 what varieties did they originate ? Was 

 the seed produced by hybridization by the 

 hand ? Or was it not impregnated at all ? 

 or only by the bees ? For aught we know, 

 these seedlings may have been only acci- 

 dental ; or, perhaps, the seed of choice va- 

 rieties may have been saved and sown, 

 with a view to the selection of improved 

 sorts. Another grower's varieties are " in- 

 comparably superior to any others, and no- 

 where else obtainable." Truly, says the 

 editor of the Horticulturist, parents are 

 partial to their own offspring ; " second and 

 third-rate seedlings are pressed upon public 

 attention as fruits of the finest quality — 

 unsurpassed and unsurpassable. The pub- 

 lic are asked to buy and plant these neto 

 sorts, which, when fairly proved, turn out 

 to be of no value, or decidedly inferior to 

 those already in cultivation." Where is the 

 improvemoit in cases like these ? Where 

 the benefit, but to the pockets of those who 

 sell? 



It is admitted that for size, productiveness 

 and great beautij, no Strawberry on this con- 

 tinent is superior to Honey's Seedling. It is 

 altogether the best adapted for general cul- 

 ture ; and, if with its other qualities we 

 could say it had the requisite flavor, it 

 would stand without a rival. The improve- 

 ment here, would be to supply what was 

 wanting by a cross with such varieties as 

 possessed high fia cor ; and not a few such 

 are cultivated. An attempt of this kind re- 

 quires some patience and care. The prin- 

 ciple is obvious, and of general application 

 with other different sorts ; nor is there a 



