THE STRAWBERRY 275 



periments in which numerous wild species, some 

 of them imported from distant regions, have had 

 a share. I have, for example, commingled the 

 strains of the best varieties of the cultivated 

 strawberry with those of strawberries from Nor- 

 way and from Alaska, and the native Chilean 

 species, as well as with various wild species of 

 our own. 



I have also attempted to hybridize a species 

 from India, the Fragaria indica, with other 

 strawberries, but have been unsuccessful. It does 

 not by any means follow that this cross cannot be 

 effected. But it is perhaps not worth while to 

 devote an undue amount of time to the experi- 

 ment, as the qualities of the Indian species are 

 not such as make it certain a hybrid thus pro- 

 duced would have any value, except possibly as 

 introducing a tendency to variation. 



The Indian plant bears a small, insipid 

 berry, and is cultivated for ornamental pur- 

 poses only. 



There are various wild strawberries growing 

 along the Pacific Coast that offer interesting pos- 

 sibilities of hybridization. It is rather interest- 

 ing to know that some of these are of the same 

 type with the Chilean species that has already 

 been named as the chief progenitor of the culti- 

 vated strawberry. 



