STRAWBERRY CULTURE AND SELECTION OF VARIETIES. 



69 



ual, more or less productive; 3d, pistillate, 

 very prodf dice. The two first have been 

 usually spoken of as one by ourselves and 

 others, when referring to impregi.ators ; 

 and the second has usually been termed 

 staminate, when speaking of fruit bearing 

 varieties. As these sexual characteristics 

 are }jerma7ient, and as false impressions are 

 conveyed by the terms, as hitherto applied, 

 we deem it indispensable to correct the no- 

 menclature by a true and correct applica- 

 tion of these terms in future. In the cul- 

 ture of the pistillate varieties, it is indis- 

 pensably necessary that they be t,ccompa- 

 nied by about one-twentieth of some sta- 

 minate or hermaphrodite variety, which 

 will render them invariably productive. 

 This course was recommended in our Trea- 

 tise on Horticulture in 1828, since which it has 

 been adopted in Ohio and elsewhere. The 

 pistillate varieties possess the great advan- 

 tage, that they may be allowed to run to- 

 gether in a mass, and will, in this mode, 

 bear profusely, and this is the most profita- 

 ble course of culture ; whereas, the herma- 

 phrodite varieties, (with three or four pecu- 

 liar exceptions,) will not produce a fair 

 crop, unless they are cultivated as distinct 

 plants and kept clear of runners. There 

 can be no such event as a failure in the 

 crops of pistillate varieties, (when accom- 

 panied by staminates or hermaphrodites.) 

 Every pistillate variety is productive, vary- 

 ing only in abundance. The hermaphro- 

 dites may all be deemed moderate bearers, 

 except where we have denoted otherwise; 

 and the few exceptions mostly produce fruit 

 of but medium size. The Primate, and 

 possibly two or three other hermaphrodites, 

 comprise the only varieties with large fruit 

 that produce large crops. In selecting an 

 impregnator to plant among pistillates, it is 

 best to select a productive hermaphrodite 

 variety, as this will prevent any loss of 



ground. In regard to hardihood, all the 

 varieties we now cultivate, with the excep- 

 tion of the Montevideo Pine, will withstand 

 the winters of the most northern states, by 

 simply covering the beds during winter 

 with four inches of straw or leaves. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF TWENTY SELECT VARIETIES. 



Profuse Scarlet. — A seedling from that 

 favorite and earliest market variety, the 

 Large Early Scarlet. The fruit is at ma- 

 turity at the same period, and is of larger 

 size than its parent, which it closely resem- 

 bles in form, colour and flavor. The pa- 

 rent is hermaphrodite, and only a moderate 

 bearer ; but the present variety is pistillate, 

 and bears profusely, — thus furnishing a 

 most desirable acquisition, and one that 

 has been anxiously sought for. Flowers 

 small. 



Bishop^s Seedling or Oraiige. — This is 

 very different from the crimson variety, 

 erroneously so called, being a beautiful 

 orange scarlet, with a profusion of clusters, 

 unsurpassed by any other, of medium size, 

 rounded. Flowers m,edium. Pistillate. 



Black Prince. — Large, rounded, slightly 

 projecting at the extremity, blackish crim- 

 son, very dark, in large clusters, very showy, 

 sweet and excellent when fully ripe. Flow- 

 ers medium. Pistillate. 



Charlotte. — Large, obovate or rounded, 

 dark scarlet, sweet, delicious, sprightly fla- 

 vor, and very superior to most varieties ; 

 exceedingly productive. Some straw should 

 be lain on the ground, as the size and 

 abundance of the fruit causes it often to 

 rest on the earth. The foliage is broad 

 and luxuriant, and even more so than Ho- 

 vey's Seedling, to which its habit greatly 

 assimilates. Flowers medium. Pistillate. 



Crimson Cone. — Large, elongated cone, 

 bright crimson, very beautiful, good flavor, 

 and fragrant ; keeps remarkably well, and 



