134 CULTURE OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



the Committee, relative to tlie character of the plant, and i4^ 

 productive qualities, they have unanimously arrived at the 

 following conclusions : 



1 . That strawberry plants raised from seed, like many othei 

 plants, are liable to run into diversified varieties, and a pecu- 

 liarity in these varieties, is the irregularity of the reproduc- 

 tive or sexual organs. 



2. That a few varieties have the flowers perfect in th* 

 sexual organs, and present the stamens and pistils both fully 

 developed in each flower. Such flowers may produce a good 

 crop of medium-sized fruit, as we have witnessed this season, 

 in the cultivation of the La Grange (a variety of the Haut 

 Bois), in the White Pine, and in the Monthly Alpine. 



3. Another class, which is numerous and embraces the best 

 varieties cultivated in this neighborhood, has the female or 

 pistillate organs fully developed, and the male or staminate 

 organs so imperfect, that at first glance they appear to be 

 wanting ; but a critical examination and dissection of the 

 flower will disclose them, few in number, and so imperfect in 

 anthers and pollen, that they appear incapable of fertilizing 

 the stigmas ; consequently, they are termed pistillate or female 

 plants, and require a staminate plant near them to furnish the 

 fertilizing powers ; for without staminate plants, the crop will 

 be small, and the berries imperfect. Hovey's Seedling plant 

 will illustrate this class. 



4. Other varieties are perfect in the male or staminate or- 

 gans, with the pistils imperfect. Such plants will produce an 

 imperfect crop, although some flowers may have perfect pis- 

 tils, and produce the berries of large size ; but under the 

 most favorable circumstances they will fail to mature an 

 abundant crop of fruit. 



It may be proper here to state, that these varieties have a 

 strong growth, producing vigorous runners, and when planted 

 with pistillate plants, within two or three years, they occupy 



