several kinds of Strawberries. 407 



rows, near together; but although well attended to, neither 

 kind has produced fruit, unless, indeed, a very little, and that 

 imperfect. I examined myself the plants, when in blossom 

 last spring, and found that all had the female organs; but not 

 in a single instance did 1 discover the male organs in any of 

 the kinds. Now the remedy for these unfruitful plants would 

 appear to be plain, it being, as you say, only necessary fo 

 know "that our seedling, the Methven, Downton, &c., should 

 be set out in beds near to a bed of early Virginia, or some 

 other staminate plants, to make them produce as great a crop 

 as may be wished." My observation has been, that there 

 may be exceptions to this rule, and it is to this that I would 

 particularly call your attention. 



In a part of Mr. Huntington's garden, somewhat remote 

 from the vines I have referred to, was a large bed of the white 

 Wood strawberry, and parallel to these, and almost inter- 

 mingled with them, another bed of the IMethven Castle, which 

 for two seasons have not produced a single perfect fruit: again, 

 an experiment was made last spring, by setting out in the 

 midst of the bed of Warren's seedling ^lethven, and also of 

 the Hautbois, several of the native wild strawberry plants, 

 but without any difference being perceived in the barren plants 

 in consequence. How can you explain this? The Wood, 

 as well as the wild strawberry, are both, if I mistake not, 

 staminate plants, and yet neither has served to impregnate 

 either the seedling Methven or Methven, in the cases refer- 

 red to. 



I observe that the Hautbois is stated by Mr. Longworth, to 

 be of a "different species," and, as such, not capable of being 

 impregnated, either by the Hudson, Virginia, scarlet, or our 

 native strawberry; is it then that it can only be rendered pro- 

 ductive by a mixture of male plants with the female of the 

 same kind.'' If so, I would ask if any male plants of this de- 

 scription can be procured. I have a superabundance of fe- 

 male plants, but not a single male, nor am I aware that I have 

 the means here of making the former of any value. 



I have in my own grounds six kinds of strawberries, which 

 I have cultivated successfully for several years; in addition to 

 these, I have added, on a new plot of ground, the four varie- 

 ties named as in the garden of Mr. Huntington, and ii is, as 

 you will readily perceive, desirable to set about the means of 

 making these productive with the least possible delay. It will 



