30 Hmitbois and Hudson Bay Strawberries. 



Art. VI. Some Remarks o?i the Sterile Character of the 

 Haiitbois and Hudson Bay Straicberries. By Dr. J. H. 

 Bayne, Alexandria, D. C. 



I perceive by the last number of your magazine, you 

 have copied an article of mine on the cnltivation of the 

 strawberry. 1 am very glad to find the theory which has 

 prevailed with the cultivators of that dehcious fruit, for 

 some time, is now considered exploded, and that the causes 

 of frequent unproductiveness are explained. Upon inquiry 

 I still find some intelligent horticultaralists in this region 

 laboring imder the same erroneous impressions. In the last 

 number of your journal you state it unequivocally as the 

 received opinion at this time, that there is no necessity of 

 making any distinction in regard to the sexual character of 

 plants when forming new beds. In reference to your seed- 

 ling I had come to different conclusions, and in part from 

 your previous suggestions, together with the experience of 

 distinguished amateurs and cultivators, published in your 

 magazine and elsewhere. In consequence of what I had 

 read, and believed, with regard to the two sexes in the 

 strawberry, I adopted the plan, in forming beds of your 

 seedling, to place them in juxtaposition with the melon, 

 and the result was so favorable as to exceed my greatest 

 expectations. 



If there should not be this defective organization in the 

 flowers of your seedling, I think it might safely be pro- 

 nounced the ne plus ultra. Its magnificent size, unsur- 

 passed productiveness and superior flavor, give it a decided 

 preeminence over every other variety: and will, when 

 more extensively known, drive all others out of cultivation. 

 The old Virginia only will be retained on account of its 

 early maturity. 



In order, however, to become a complete proselyte to 

 your theory, it will be necessary to have a few more facts 

 explained. 



Some five or six years since I procured a few plants of 

 the Hautbois variety. Every plant but one died ; that 

 grew luxuriantly, and multiplied so rapidly that I was able 

 in a short time to plant out considerable beds; but to my 

 great disappointment they proved entirely unproductive. 

 I next cultivated them distinctly, observing to destroy care- 

 fully every runner throughout the year, and although the 



