360 LongwortK s Pamphlet on the 



1845. His statement about the Wood Strawberry is equally 

 incorrect. We now take up the questions we have proposed. 



1st. Are there innle and female strcnrberry 'plants ? 



We say Avithout hesitation — no, — so far as the strawberry 

 has yet been seen. It is necessary, in discussing subjects of 

 this nature, that we call things by their right names. There 

 are perfect and imperfect flowering kinds ; the committee of 

 the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, chosen to look into this 

 matter, admit, that a "critical examination of the flowers will 

 disclose the stamens, few in number, and so imperfect in an- 

 thers and pollen, that they appear incapable of fertilizing the 

 stigmas." (See p. 308.) On this head. Mr. Thomas has made 

 some sensible remarks in the Cultivator, which fully coincide 

 with our views, (IX. p. 415.) He has accompanied his re- 

 marks with engravings, in which the stamens are shown, but 

 so few and short as to be deficient for impregnating the pistils, 

 and he also states that they "are evidently imperfect and 

 flattened, partaking thus, in a slight degree, the character of 

 the petals of a double flower :" and further, that after many 

 careful observations of Hovey's Seedling with a compound 

 achromatic microscope, on " some of the anthers no pollen was 

 obtained; they, however, usually aflbrded a small quantity; 

 and their fertilizing power appears to be slowly developed as 

 they burst and discharge the minute portions tbey contain in 

 most cases, about the time or after the petals open." This is 

 the true character of our seedling, and all the large kinds usu- 

 ally denominated pistillate. Can any further facts be re- 

 quired to establish the correct name of the blossoms ? If so, 

 Ave stand ready to become convinced when they are equally 

 as well substantiated. 



2d. Can what are termed {erroneonsly^ pistillate plants be 

 onade what are termed (^crroneoiis/y) staminate ones 7 



i\gain. we answer — no. The instance has never yet been 

 shown, notwithstanding the luminous views of Mr. Downing 

 and his offer to make tbem to order. Our seedling has an im- 

 perfect flower, and no cultivation, or " allowing it to exhaust 

 itself by overbearing," will produce that result. Every culti- 

 vator who has found staminate flowers, so called, in his beds 

 of Hovey's Seedling has found either accidental seedlings (as 

 we have often done, and recorded the fact, VIII. p. 261,) or 



