STRAWBERRY. 45 



tions may have been made on growing plants by the influ- 

 ence of the pollen from different varieties. It is generally 

 supposed that no effect is produced except on the seeds, but 

 as it is most conclusively proved in animal physiology that 

 the female retains the effect of the first impregnation in her 

 system for years, may not the same be true of plants, and 

 the admixture or deterioration of one, and the improve- 

 ment of another kind growing in close proximity, be caused 

 by the absorption of qualities each from the other? 



If the effect of the pollen reaches no further than the 

 seeds, why is not the fruit (receptacle) produced without 

 them. But we find that wherever the pistils are not fer- 

 tilized the receptacle also fails, or if a portion only is sup- 

 plied with pollen then the receptacle is deformed in pro- 

 portion. Remove one, two, or more pistils before they 

 are fertilized, and the berry, just at that point, fails to en- 

 large or come to maturity. No seeds, no berry, is the rule. 



If the Strawberry seed was large enough to be readily 

 examined, we should probably see a difference in color and 

 form just as we notice in mixed varieties of corn. In the 

 latter we can see that the influence of cross fertilization 

 extends further than the seed, because its receptacle (cob) 

 is often changed beneath the kernel to a color similar to 

 that of the variety which produced the pollen. 



It is often asserted that the Hovey is better when fertil- 

 ized with one kind than with another, and may not this be 

 true further than that of being fully supplied with pollen ? 



Strawberry culture would probably have been just as 

 far advanced if we had never had a pistillate variety in 

 cultivation, and much confusion would have been avoided. 

 Had not Mr. Hovey produced so good a pistillate variety 

 as he did, it is very likely that such kinds would have never 

 been tolerated by fruit growers anywhere. But the advent 

 of this variety gave a new impetus to Strawberry culture, 

 and at the present time it is considered in some sections as 

 a standard market fruit. 



