Cross-bred Strawberries. il 



a separate genus called Seloiipedium, on account of a remarkable pecu- 

 liarity, common to them, of a three-celled ovary. 



There is a curious fact in regard to the extraordinary tails of C. caudatum, 

 which are the longest belonging to any of the genus. They are not present 

 in the flower-buds, but are developed after the blossoms open, increasing 

 at the rate of one and a half to two inches a day until their full extension 

 (twenty inches or more) is acquired. A plant of C. caudatiun roseimi was 

 shown at the International Horticultural Exhibition in London last summer, 

 with nine superb flowers, remarkable for size and color, the petals of 

 which measured twenty-nine inches in length. 



George B. Warren, yun. 



Troy, N.Y., February, 1867. 



Note. — All the tropical species of the Cypripedium being stemless, like our native C. acaule, I use 

 the word "stem" wrongly when speaking of what are strictly scapes, or peduncles. 



CROSS-BRED STRAWBERRIES. 



Having produced many superior new strawberries by crossing some 

 of the best-known varieties, I herewith present an account of them, and of 

 some of the other results of my experiments with this fruit. It is the gen- 

 eral opinion, I believe, that we have few if any sorts, besides the Wilson's 

 Albany, combining all the merits desirable in a variety for general culture. 

 This combination of good qualities the originator of new varieties should 

 endeavor to effect ; and it is my experience, that, by crossing the proper 

 sorts, such result can be accomplished. I say not that the extreme of every 

 good quality can be united in any one variety, simply for the reason that 

 some of these qualities are antagonistic ; and for a variety to be excessively 

 developed in one of them requires that it must be more or less restricted 

 in some other respect. Thus the extreme of productiveness is most al- 

 ways accompanied with insipid flavor ; or, if not that, with slow growth. 

 The following descriptions will serve to illustrate this truth. What I main- 

 tain is, that varieties may be produced which will approximate perfection, 

 by combining great productiveness, excellent quality, vigorous growth, &c., 

 but not developed to the utmost in every one of these respects. 



