THE STRAWBERRY. 171 



Seedling, are known for good quality, large size, 

 and productiveness.* The two latter being tender, 



* Much discussion has arisen from the supposed dioecious 

 character of some varieties; or barrenness, supposed to result 

 from imperfectly formed flowers. The question appears to 

 be still involved in conjecture. 



It is well known that fertility in all flowers, is caused by 

 fertilizing the pistils with the pollen or dust from the sta- 

 mens. Where both are perfect in the same flower, no diffi- 

 culty can exist. But if one or the other is imperfect or 

 wanting, sterility must result. If the stamens are absent, 

 pollen from other flowers may supply the deficiency. But 

 if the pistils are imperfect or gone, there is of course no re- 

 medy. 



The Wood and Alpine strawberries, and some other vari- 

 eties, possess perfect flowers; but some of the larger and 

 more highly improved sorts, appear often to have imperfect 

 flowers, and are accompanied with barrenness. Some have 

 supposed these to be really dioecious, or permanently staminate 

 or pistillate; but if so, any single productive variety must al- 

 ways be pistillate, as, having increased by runners from a sin- 

 gle original seedling, its character in this respect cannot 

 change. Hence, it would always need the fertilizing influ- 

 ence of some other, nearly allied variety, planted near, but not 

 so as to intermix and cause confusion among the roots. 



The more common opinion is, that the flowers of certain 

 varieties become imperfect by cultivation or other controll- 

 ing causes, in a manner analogous to that by which stamens 

 are converted into the petals of double flowers, and by which 

 their fertilizing power is known to be lost. The opinion 

 just slated, is strengthened by the fact that some varieties 

 on very rich ground and with high culture, though flowering 

 abundantly, are rendered comparatively barren, unless fertil- 

 ized from other flowers, while they are found to be pro- 

 ductive under different circumstances. 



Those who maintain the distinct dioecious character of the 

 strawberry, affirm that the staminate plants increase more 

 rapidly and obtain the ascendancy ; and hence the reason 

 why beds often become gradually sterile, which is only to 

 be prevented by destroying the staminate plants. 



Thorough, extensive, and accurate experiments, are need- 

 ed in the investigation of this subject. 



