THE STKAWBEKKY CULTUKIST. 19 



TO PRODUCE LARGE FRUIT. 



To grow a few large berries, it is only necessary to select, so soon as 

 you can after the fruit sets, three or four of the most promising beriies, 

 and pick off all the rest, and then not let the plant want for moisture 

 or food until it is ripe. To grow large fruit of the Alpine strawberry, 

 it is best to raise new plants from seed every season, letting them fruit 

 but one season, and then replace them with new plants. This class of 

 strawberry reproduces itself from seed without any considerable 

 variation. 



TO PRODUCE JVEW VARIETIES. 



In attempting to produce a new variety of strawberries from seed, 

 it should first be decided what are the qualities desired, and then, by 

 selecting two varieties that possess these qualities as near as may be, 

 and by fertilizing one with the other, we can come nearer to the object 

 in view than we should by sowing seed collected indiscriminately from 

 varieties not properly fertilized. 



For instance, let us take the Wilson, which is very prolific, quite 

 large, and firm, but is rather acid, and too dark a color, with a calyx 

 that does not part readily from the berry, and the Peabody, which is 

 not prolific, though large, and is of superior color, and sweet, and has 

 a calyx that paiis readily. 



Now let us place these two varieties at some distance from others, 

 but in close proximity to each other, so that they can be the more 

 readily operated upon. When they come into bloom, remove the 

 stamens from as many flowers as desired, and then with a fine camel's- 

 hair pencil take the pollen from the other variety, and dust it over 

 the pistils of the flower from which the stamens have been removed. 

 It is well to place a fine netting over the plant operated upon, to pre- 

 vent insects from fertilizing it with pollen from inferior varieties. 



The flowers should have the pollen applied several times, a few 

 hours between each application, so that the fertilization shall be com- 

 plete. It is well to use both varieties as parents, and fertilize the 

 Wilson with the Peabody, and vice versa, as it can not be determined 

 which will produce the best until proved by actual experiment. I do 

 not mention the Wilson and Peabody believing them to be the best to 



