called the Boston Pine. 293 



latter, having a foliage apparently between the two. It has 

 always been a source of regret that, out of the immense quan- 

 tity of seedling plants of various kinds which we have raised 

 during the last fifteen years, this should have been almost 

 the only case where the parentage has been lost. A certainty 

 of the origin of our seedlings would form some data upon 

 which to continue similar experiments. 



Since our Seedling was first brought into notice, many am- 

 ateur cultivators have attempted the growth of new sorts 

 from the seeds saved from the largest berries of that variety ; 

 it is rather singular, however, that out of a great number of 

 experiments continued for two or three years, nothing has 

 yet been obtained that would compare with the parent. It 

 was a theory of Van Mons, that there was a limit to perfec- 

 tion in fruits ; and the numerous experiments which have al- 

 ready been made, would lead one to infer that it had almost 

 been attained in the growth of the strawberry. 



The sterile and fertile character of the strawberry has been 

 a subject of much discussion in our pages, and no perfectly 

 satisfactory result has been arrived at. But enough informa- 

 tion has been elicited to show, that with some sorts there is a 

 tendency to barrenness, when growing in a plantation away 

 from other kinds. Let the causes be whatever they may, it 

 is sufficient for all practical purposes, to know, that the most 

 abundant crops can be procured by planting some sort 

 abounding with siaminate flowers, in the near vicinity of 

 those which do not possess them : and whether soil, — cli- 

 mate, — cultivation, — injudicious selection of plants, — or a 

 normal defect in the organization of the flowers, prevent the 

 production of pollen, a certain crop may be depended upon. 

 Thus in a plantation of Hovey's Seedling, a single row 

 of the Old Scarlet or Boston Pine, will fertilize a dozen rows 

 of the former. We know of one gentleman who has raised 

 two thousand quarts of Hovey's Seedling on a single acre, set 

 out in this way, the present year. It is time and labor thrown 

 away to cultivate sterile plants, as has been recommended by 

 some individuals, when varieties, unusually productive and 

 of large size can be planted out for that purpose. It is in 

 this respect, that we view our new seedling as invaluable to 

 every good collection of strawberries. 



