190 



HOME FRUIT GROWER 



by keeping the plants out of the prepared bed until late Spring if he 

 desires, by which time the worst of the weed seeds will have ger- 

 minated and been killed by cultivation. 



It is important to know whether the varieties chosen are perfect 

 or imperfect; that is, whether they have bisexual or only pistillate 

 flowers (Fig. 125). The former are self-fertilized, the latter depend 

 on the pollen from bisexual flowers. Hence when the pistillate kinds 

 are chosen because of their high quality and their productiveness, or 

 because they are freer than the staminate from the attacks of weevil, 

 it is necessary to have other plants of perfect kinds near by to insure 

 a good set of fruit. A good proportion and arrangement is one row of 

 staminate (perfect) plants, then three of pistillate, then another row 

 of staminate and so on across the patch. 



Fig. 127. Good promise of luscious Strawberries 



Some varieties make better combinations than do others either 

 because they bloom at the same time or they have an apparently 

 better affinity. This point can usually be decided by the Strawberry 

 nurseryman. Some plant growers are so particular that they will not fill 

 an order where the customer is making a mistake in a pollenizer for a 

 certain variety, but will write and suggest other varieties. So when 

 ordering plants it is well to ask advice on this point and allow 

 substitution of pollenizers. 



It is generally recommended that all blossoms that appear on 

 newly set plants of "ordinary season" varieties be destroyed; and 

 those that develop on "ever-bearing" kinds be also removed until 



