^ .")18 SEXUAL CHANdES IN THE 6TUA\VU?;n UV. 



We would not deter our amateurs from pivinp; these, and all new varieties, a 



fair tost ; on the contrary, we have room and nu'aiiis cnoiiifh, in our extensive land, 

 to allow us to make trials on larj^e scales, in all kinds of soils, localities, and cli- 

 mates. If onl\' one new variety out of a score, proves to be as valualtle as the 

 liiiirr^ D^AiiJou, for instance, we shall have lost neither our time nor our money. 

 Meanwhile, let us sow, and depend upon our native varieties a preat deal more 

 than upon {mmigrants of an uncertain character, and of doubtful adaptedness to 

 our climate. Let its sow, gentlemen 1 When nature has done so much for us as 

 to give us, in stray seedlings, such pears as the Di.x, the Tyson, the Kingsessing, 

 and so 7>ia>tt/ others, what may not be the result of our combined efforts to help 

 that bountiful mother. Nature ? 



Mil. LONGWORTII AND MR. MEEHAN ON SEXUAL 

 CHANGES IN THE STRAWBERRY. 



[The " strawberry question" is a very important one, so far as the credit and character 

 of a nurseryman are concerned, though it has very little bearing, in a practical point of view, 

 where a distinction between a pistillate and hermaphrodite is quite material. It is strange 

 that such a simple question cannot be at once and forever decided. If any of our friends have 

 any additional facts or observations to record, we shall be willing and glad to publisli them. 

 In the absence of any new facts, however, we think the discussion ought to stop ; and, that 

 no party might have any cause to complain of injustice, we thought proper, before apply- 

 ing the brakes, to send the following note of Mr. Longworth's to Mr. Meehan, so that, if he 

 had any remarks to make, they might be inserted together. The two papers will be found 

 below. — Ed. IIokt.] 



Cincinnati, September 26, 1857. 

 Editor of Horticulturist, Philadelphia: I am informed by an article in 

 your publication (from Mr. Meehan), that " Dr. Warder believes in the change 

 of the sexual character of the strawberry plant : the pure staminate to a pistillate, 

 or hermaphrodite, and a like change in a pure pistillate ; and a change in my 

 lirolific (Hermaj)hroditc) to pure pistlllates, as was the case in his own garden, 

 and recently in the garden of C. Legg, M. I)." The latter, I am pleased to learn, 

 made no such statement ; for, if modesty did not forbid it, I would say, not that 

 persons holding these doctrines were "dishonest," but merely "stupid," and know 

 as little of the true sexual character of the plant as the great Linnaeus and his 

 learned followers till the world was enlightened through a chance observation of 

 an ignorant market-woman's son. What Dr. Warder says is true. The crop of 

 all the Hermai)hroditcs I have ever seen, is uncertain, except with the Prolific 

 (unless Ward's Albany Seedling be also an exception). The Iowa, some seasons, 

 bears nearly a full crop; other seasons, not more than half a crop. The cause is 

 this : Some seasons, nearly all the pistillates in the blossoms arc ])erfect ; in others, 

 entirely defective, and bear no fruit, or in part defective, and bear imperfect ber- 

 ries. In raising from seed, I have always found a large portion pure staminates 

 or pistillates, and but few hermaphrodites. I have this season j>lanted seed, and 

 expect to raise 20,000 plants; the hermaphrodite and pistillate seed kept in sepa- 

 rate beds, to ascertain whether the sexual character of the parent will operate on 

 the children. 



As your Banks of issue have suspended, these are hard times ; here we have no 

 Banks of issue to suspend. la seven years, I have seen but four Cincinnati bank 

 notes. Hard as times are, I will present Mr. Meehan with a handsome 



