THE STRAWBERRY AND ITS CULTURE. 265 



can be seen in an early variety, but the influence of our 

 own field strawberry in the improvement of the garden 

 varieties has evidently been very small." 



From a botanical standpoint this is wholly true, but 

 from the horticultural point of view the exact adaptation 

 of varieties to our varied climates and soils has largely 

 come from our native species. As an instance, we know 

 that the Charles Downing sprang from a seed of the 

 western wild species (Fragaria Illinocnsis) pollinated by 

 a Chilian variety, and we also know that in habit of growth 

 and runners, and in choice aromatic flavor, it follows the 

 native, while the Chilian pollen has given size of fruit and 

 decidedly modified the foliage. Our native species has 

 also transmitted the required hardiness. 



255. Staminate and Pistillate Varieties. All botanists 

 have described the strawberry as perfect in flower or 

 bi-sexual. But our cultivated varieties are now classed as 

 staminate and pistillate or pistillate and perfect. With- 

 out doubt this change has come from two main causes: 

 (1) The cultivated plants often assume forms and show 

 changes quite different from the natural type. (2) Hybrid- 

 izing often brings about sterility in various forms. In 

 the case of the Green Prolific, Hovey seedling, and other 

 sorts, it is known that they were the product of a cross of 

 two bi-sexual varieties, yet they have no perfect stamens. 

 In such cases we know that the change was made by 

 hybridizing. Fig. 80 at A shows the pistillate flower. 

 If planted apart from perfect varieties no fruit will develop 

 unless partially or wholly pollinated by bees or other 

 insects. Fig. SOS shows the flower of a perfect variety, 

 with the stamens in a circle around the mass of pistils in 

 the centre. 



In planting, some growers plant one row of a perfect 

 variety alternated with two rows of a pistillate variety. 



