The Strawberry Question. 347 



grayish specks, and the leaves are of medmm size, dark 

 shining green, with very wavy margins. 



Size, medium, about two inches in diameter, and two and 

 a half long : Form, obovate, regular, tapering towards the 

 stem, below which it is slightly contracted : Skin, fair, smooth, 

 lemon yellow when mature, considerably russeted around the 

 stem, and on one side : Stem, short, about half an inch long, 

 rather slender, slightly knobby, and inserted with scarcely 

 any cavity by the side of a slight projection : Eye, medium 

 size, open, and slightly depressed in a small basin ; segments 

 of the calyx short, broad, and apparently united : Flesh, 

 yellowish, fine, melting and juicy : Flavor, rich, sugary and 

 delicious, with a peculiar delicate aroma : Core, medium size : 

 Seeds, large, long, and nearly black. Ripe in October, and 

 keeps some time. 



Art. II. The Strawberry Question. By the Editor. 



Start not, dear reader ! We do not intend to open anew 

 the whole subject of the strawberry question which has been 

 agitated for several years, and now so satisfactorily settled. 

 Oui object is merely to notice the opinions of some writers in 

 regard to our Seedling, and to show how little they know of 

 its true character. 



In our last volume, (XII. p. 359), we fully discussed the 

 subject of the fertile and sterile character of strawberries, and 

 stated that a series of carefully conducted experiments had 

 convinced us that the blossoms never change their form. If 

 pistillate or staminate, they forever remain so. We also stat- 

 ed, in reply to Mr. Saul, of the Highland Gardens, (p. 455), 

 that every cultivator who found staminate plants in his beds 

 of Hovey's Seedling might rest assured that he did not possess 

 the True variety. 



Mr. Downing, who ought to know our strawberry without 

 looking at the blossoms, — for we have scarcely a gardener in 

 our grounds who cannot pick out Hovey's Seedhng by the 

 leaf alone, among a dozen other sorts, — has stated that his 



