several kinds of Straio berries. 409 



ing to the small size of the berries, and, in consequence, have 

 not taken any particular note of their flowering or fruiting — 

 but we have the impression, whether or not correct we cannot 

 now say, that it is so much later in blooming than the JNleth- 

 ven that it would not be certain to impregnate the latter varie- 

 ty. If such should not be fact, we can only infer, 



Second, — that the small size of the flowers, and their being 

 generally hidden by the foliage, might prevent them from im- 

 pregnating beds near at hand, particularly in some seasons, 

 when there are repeated showers, and dull weather, at the 

 time of blooming. 



Thirdly, — Though we have cultivated the Methven scarlet 

 for upwards of ten years, yet we never examined the blos- 

 soms till the past spring, and then only those on a very small 

 number of plants. May not the Methven, like some of the 

 kinds Mr. Longworth mentions, have both male and female 

 blossoms? and may not the former, being the most vigorous, 

 overrun the latter, and Mr. Huntington's plants be nothing but 

 staminate ones.'* Though this may not, perhaps, be the case, 

 yet there is a probability of it. 



Neither of these hypotheses may be correct, and the want 

 of productiveness may arise from some unknown, and, at 

 present, inexplicable cause. Yet we trust, by the return of 

 another spring, that a satisfactory reason may be discovered 

 for the unproductiveness of the kinds growing parallel with 

 the white Wood. We would remark, that the wild strawber- 

 ries of the pastures do not all have perfect flowers: in a doz- 

 en or two plants which we examined last spring, some were 

 perfect, having both stamens and pistils — others only pistils — 

 and others only stamens; thus showing, that the defect men- 

 tioned by Mr. Longworth, exists in the original species. 



We trust the subject will continue to engage the minds of 

 cultivators, and that, by the return of another year, a correct 

 observation will set the disputed question at rest. 



The method of setting out staminate plants in rows between 

 the beds, in the spring, will have the effect of securing a crop of 

 fruit; and the kind we would suggest for this purpose, is the 

 early Virginia, the flowers of which are large, and filled with 

 an abundance of stamens. This variety is also a rapid grow- 

 er, perfectly hardy, and produces an abundance of excellent 

 fruit, the earliest in the market. — Ed. 



VOL. VIII. NO. XI. 52 



