80 SMALL FRUIT CULTUEIST. 



may have been applied through ignorance or design. It 

 is very doubtful if there have ever been any true hybrids 

 produced between the Hautbois, or the Alpine, and other 

 species. Some fifty years ago, a Mr. Williams, of Pitmas- 

 ton, in England, claimed to have produced a hybrid be- 

 tween the Hautbois and Alpine, which gave fruit without 

 seed, but nothing more was heard of it beyond the an- 

 nouncement of its production. 



Whether hybrids between the Alpines and Hautbois, 

 or these and other species, have ever been produced is un- 

 certain ; yet I think it possible and worthy of trial. 



WINTER PROTECTION. 



In many portions of the country a winter protection to 

 Strawberry plants is very beneficial, if not positively ne- 

 cessary. Some of our most successful growers in the 

 Northern States never fail to protect their plants, and 

 without doubt they are amply repaid for the expense in- 

 curred. For my own part I never have had a full crop 

 without giving protection, and never expect one. 



There can scarcely be a doubt that the great success of 

 some cultivators, with particular kinds, is owing, in a 

 great measure, if not entirely, to the winter protection of 

 the plants. 



The embryo fruit buds are formed within the crown of 

 the plant in autumn, and therefore it must be apparent 

 that sudden transition from heat to severe cold will very 

 .nuch weaken if not wholly destroy them. 



In sections of the country where the plants are covered 

 with snow during the entire winter, other protection is not 

 so important as where there is little snow, but continued 

 freezing and thawing. It is not expected nor is it desira- 

 ble to protect the plants so that they shall not be frozen, 

 but merely to shade them, and prevent their being affect- 

 ed by every little change in the weather. 



A covering of straw, hay, leaves, or any similar mate- 



