14 Cross-bred Strawberries. 



close examination, I generally detected some shade of superiority in the 

 size, flavor, productiveness, &c., of those reserved. Many of the seedlings 

 from pistillates were pistillates also, and were therefore rejected, although 

 they were generally more productive than those of the opposite class. Oc- 

 casionally I observed a pistillate from two perfect flowering sorts. One of 

 the most serious defects of the latter class was the blasting of a portion of 

 the blossoms. I saved none of those having this defect, as I knew it to be 

 permanent. A variety subject to it may produce very large and handsome 

 fruit ; and nearly every hermaphrodite sort I have observed is thus faulty in 

 greater or less degree, though with some it is so slight as not to lessen their 

 productiveness. I think the principal reason why pistillates produce larger 

 crops than most of the opposite class is because all their blossoms form fruit 

 when well supplied with pollen by another variety. Nature, seemingly, de- 

 velops their pistils at the expense of the stamens, which remain in abeyance. 



Some of these seedlings were very curious, having fruit deeply furrowed 

 from the base to the point, and semicircular and triangular in shape. Sev- 

 eral had horned berries ; that is, there were pointed protuberances over the 

 surface of the berry. Many of the crosses with the Wilson were productive 

 to a wonderful degree ; but they were apt to be inferior in quality, and to 

 have too short fruit-stalks. 



There are those who believe the Wilson to be the ultimatum in produc- 

 tiveness ; but, could they see some of these cross-breds in bearing, they 

 might have a different opinion. The first year they fruited, the Nos. 5, 25, 

 and others, were loaded down with a mass of berries ; so that it seemed 

 scarcely possible for a variety to bear more. The crosses with the wild 

 strawberry were also prodigious bearers ; but the fruit, although much larger 

 than the wild strawberry, was smaller than requisite, and of too acid flavor. 



As to my statement of the origin of Nos. 46, 47, I am aware it will be 

 doubted by many : nevertheless, it is certainly correct.* My object in 

 hybridizing the two species was to produce a perpetual of larger size than 

 the Alpine, which I did not succeed in doing. There were about fifty 

 seedlings, some of which resembled the Alpine both in fruit and foliage ; 

 but none of them produced a second crop as I expected. However, I still 



* We see no reason to question the fact, but suspect the hybrid will ultimately run out, or change its 

 character. — Ed. 



