Originating New Varieties Hybridization. 153; 



actuate. As Mr. Durand once said, when so perplexed by the difficulties 

 and complications of his labor, and so disheartened by the results that he 

 was inclined to throw down the burden, "There is a fascination that 

 binds me still." In other words, he was engaged in one of the divinest 

 forms of alchemy. 



Having procured the vigorous stock from which we hope to obtain 

 still stronger and more productive varieties, we may go to work several 

 ways. We may plant our choice varieties in close proximity, and let the 

 bees and summer gales do the hybridizing. It will be remembered that 

 the organs of procreation in the perfect strawberry blossom are the pistils 

 on the convex receptacle and the encircling stamens. The anthers of the 

 latter produce a golden powder, so light that it will float on, a summer 

 breeze, and so fine that insects dust themselves with it and carry it long 

 distances. When this dust, which is called pollen, comes in contact with 

 the stigma of a pistil, it imparts the power of development both to the 

 seed and that which sustains it the receptacle which is eventually trans- 

 formed into the juicy pulp. If the pistils are not fertilized, there will be 

 no strawberries, as well as no seeds. Perfect-flowering varieties, there- 

 fore, are self-fertilizing. There are stamens and pistils in the same flower, 

 and the pollen from the former impregnates the latter. In view of this- 

 fact, the probabilities are all against success in obtaining an improved 

 variety. While the pollen may pass from one perfect-flowering kind to 

 another, and produce a seed which will give a new combination, the 

 chances of self-fertilization, and that, in consequence, the seeds will pro- 

 duce degenerate and somewhat varying counterparts of the parent, are so 

 great that it is a waste of time to plant them. There is little to be hoped, 

 therefore, from the seed of perfect-flowering kinds left to nature's 

 influences. 



In this country, we have pistillate varieties, or those that are wholly 

 destitute of stamens. Mr. Fuller says that, for some reason, they do not 

 originate abroad. It is obvious that, with these pistillates, we can attain a 

 direct cross with some staminate or perfect-flowering, variety, but if our 

 pistillates grow openly in the garden, near several staminates, the seeds 

 sown may have been fertilized by the poorest of them, or by pollen from 

 wild strawberries, brought by the wind or insects. It is all hap-hazard 

 work, and we can only guess at the parentage of the seedlings. There is 

 no skillful combination of good qualities, such as the stock farmer makes 

 when he mingles good blood. Gathering the seed, therefore, in our 

 gardens, even under the most favorable auspices, is the veriest game of 

 hazard, with nearly all the chances against us ; and yet superb varieties. 

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