Strawberry Culture 17 



pollen. Some are strongly staminate and others nearly pistillate. 

 Not only this, but some varieties, like the Gandy, have a few 

 of the earlier blossoms pistillate and all the others bi-sexual. 

 While a perfect berry is evidence that fertilization took place, 

 an imperfect berry, commonly called a "nubbin," is no proof 

 that the pollen was in any way deficient. Imperfect berries 

 may result from a lack of pollen, from any circumstance that 

 prevents the pollen from reaching the pistil while in a receptive 

 condition, or from any injury to a part of the pistils in any 

 blossom. It is difficult for blossoms to get fertilized in a rainy 

 time. The pollen is washed to the ground, insects cannot carry 

 it from flower to flower, and the sticky, honey-like substance 

 on the stigma may be washed off, so that the pollen grains will 

 not adhere. If a part of the pistils in a blossom are destroyed 

 by some insect, and the rest pollenized, a misshapen berry will 

 result. 



These are only possible contingencies. The rule is that pol- 

 lenization shall take place, and exceptions are rare. No crop 

 that we raise is more certain not even grass. Many growers 

 give themselves unnecessary anxiety in regard to this matter. 

 They think that a mate for a pistillate variety must come into 

 bloom the same day, that it must be within a few feet of it, and 

 that it must be "congenial." Now it is well known that a pis- 

 tillate blossom will remain in a receptive condition waiting to 

 be fertilized for some days. During this time pollen may reach 

 maturity in stamens of a later blooming variety. No person can 

 tell how far pollen may be carried by the wind or by insects. 

 About forty years ago I was shown about half an acre of pistill- 

 ate strawberries with not another bed within a quarter of a mile. 

 I told the owner that he would have no crop, the plants being 



