494 



REMARKS ON STRAWBERRIES. 



most willing to keep them,) we naturally 

 have a desire to "light our taper," which, 

 though it he dim, may still cast one ray into 

 the midst of darkness, as a beacon to the 

 traveller through the mists and mazes of 

 an ever changing labyrinth of words — vox 

 et prcRteria nihil. 



What is the strawberry question ? It is, 

 whether or not any varieties of the plant 

 are dmcious ? In other words, are there male 

 and female plants of the same variety ? 

 These are the questions. 



For the past two or three years, the mat- 

 ter has been freely discussed in books and 

 periodicals, both horticultural and agricul- 

 tural. It should be, therefore, settled, if 

 possible, because it has an important bear- 

 ing on the culture and improvement of an 

 estimable fruit, and has led to the commis- 

 sion of great mistakes, by more than one 

 nurseryman who had thousands of plants to 

 dispose of. 



A distinguished practical horticulturist, of 

 Cincinnati, who has made the cultivation 

 of the strawberry quite a hobby, and writ- 

 ten a good deal upon the subject in dispute, 

 strenuously maintains, that in many varie- 

 ties there are perfectly distinct male and 

 female plants. He speaks from ample ex- 

 perience, and supports his assertions by an 

 appeal to facts, — all coming under his own 

 personal observation. This is testimony of 

 a very decided character. 



Another gentleman, equally distinguish- 

 ed in horticulture, but not so practical as a 

 strawberry grower, states — that the plants 

 in their natural habits are hermaphrodite ; 

 i. e., they bear perfect flowers, with both 

 male and female organs in the same flower, 

 (as is always the case with the Alpine and 

 European wood varieties,) and therefore 

 every flower gives a perfect fruit ; but, that 

 the large growing strawberries, including 

 our wild scarlets, the pines, and many other 



varieties raised from them, have a strong 

 tendency, ichen ailtivated in a rich soil, to 

 vary from the natural state, being deficient 

 either in stamens, (male organs,) or pistils, 

 (female organs ;) and hence, according to 

 the deficiency, are called male and female 

 plants ; and further adds, that this imper- 

 fect state originates from over luxuriance, 

 brought about by cultivation. Here are 

 statements quite as positive as those pre- 

 ceding them. 



The late venerable and eminently prac- 

 tical proprietor of the " Linnsean Botanic 

 Garden," published in 1828, a " Short Trea- 

 tise on Horticulture." It is the j at her who 

 speaks — not the son. At page 72, he thus 

 writes : — " As beds of strawberries want re- 

 newing every two or three years, it will be 

 necessary, in forming the new beds, to se- 

 lect plants in the proportion of ni^ie heaiing 

 -plants, (pistillate ones,) to one barren, (sta- 

 minate ;) and in order to do this with cer- 

 tainty, it will be best to mark them when 

 in fruit." This extract expressly recogni- 

 zes the distinction contended for by many, 

 of male and female plants. He also adds, 

 that the English red Hautbois, and the Pme 

 apple, are very apt to he overrun with male 

 plants ; beds of them, without proper atten- 

 tion, will become almost totally unproduc- 

 tive. These are the words of experience. 

 In September, 1845, a correspondent of the 

 Agriculturist, referring to a communication 

 on this subject in a previous number, bold- 

 ly confirms the Cincinnati theory, ''which 

 fully accords with the vieivs of the late Wm. 

 Prince, as well as with his (the writer's) own 

 experience.'''' From the deep reflection and 

 sound judgment of the late Wm. Prince, we 

 think his opinion entitled to great weight ; 

 and the present opinion of the Agricultu- 

 rist's correspondent may be worth conside- 

 ration, though his experience must have 

 been very short, and his opinion, though so 



