170 Further Note on Fragaria 



malformed hermaphrodite or male flowers of no set shape and up to the 

 present sterile. 



From crosses made with Vesca x Daltoniana, garden varieties and 

 Chiloensis, I have never obtained free fruiting plants, and am now very 

 strongly inclined to believe that Vesca has nothing to do with the present 

 garden varieties. 



From my own experience in crossing Fragaria, I may perhaps be 

 allowed to add the following note which may be useful to others engaged 

 on similar work. 



In gathering strawberries for seed it is essential to gather them when 

 the seed is quite ripe. I find the best plan is — gather dry, i.e. not wet, 

 ripe fruit without handling it — place in a strong paper seed packet — 

 gum up — and keep in a fairly dry room. The fruit becomes nearly 

 desiccated, most of the liquid passing into the air and some into the 

 paper. There may be some mildew produced, but it does not matter. 

 Seeds when wanted can be rubbed from the dried fruit. I have found 

 most seed fertile after three years, but, when the fruit has been very 

 small, and the seed, through lack of pulp, become very dry, the fertility 

 is largely lost. 



There is nothing to be gained by sowing in July-October, but some 

 gain is made by sowing during November in a hot-house. When seed 

 is valuable or hard to obtain it is an excellent plan to place it between 

 two thin folds of wet cotton wool and keep in a warm house (about 70° F.). 



On the least sign of germination the seeds should be placed in pans 

 in a cool house, where they can remain till planted out or potted up ; 

 the first seeds generally germinate within 12 days, the last may take 

 months. Wood lice take kindly to very young strawberry seedlings, so 

 it is wise to place pans or boxes on glass jars until plants develop two ■ 

 leaves. 



Vesca or vesca-like plants or crosses should be renewed by runners 

 or subdivision, as they wear out after two years. On the whole the only 

 real disadvantage the strawberry presents as a subject for study is that 

 it requires a considerable amount of space all the year round, and it is 

 extremely doubtful policy to grow catch crops between the rows of 

 plants. 



