92 THE FLORIST AND 



Lancaster county, Pa. Size medium ; form variable, sometimes roundish, 

 often conical ; red in stripes of different hues ; stem short, rather stout ; 

 cavity narrow, moderately deep, slightly russeted ; basin deep, narrow ; 

 flesh greenish white, tender ; flavor agreeably aromatic ; quality u - very- 

 good." 



To the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society : 



In accordance with a suggestion of the society In one of %is regulations^ 

 that "notices of peculiarity in culture, management, &c, of the objects ex- 

 hibited are often desirable," I make a few remarks on the sexual characters 

 of the plants of Hovey's Seedling Strawberries I have exhibited this even-^ 

 ing. 



This variety is usually classed as a pistillate, and considered worthless 

 when not planted in the neighborhood of a staminate kind. I And by repeats 

 ed observations made "while forcing them that they become staminate by be-t 

 ing forced slowly in a moderate temperature, receiving at the same time aq 

 abundance of light and a regular supply of moisture — conditions well known? 

 as essential to a healthy luxuriousness of the Strawberry. On the other 

 hand, I find that whatever tends to check that luxuriance has a tendency to 

 produce the pistillate form. In the specimens before you, one very weak 

 from over-watering and deficient drainage, is a pistillate ; another, a weal^ 

 plant, and forced rapidly, has the anthers very nearly abortive ; while the 

 other plant, which has been in the forcing house since the middle of January, 

 and in circumstances every way favorable to their healthy development, are 

 as perfect as possible. 



Last season a number of plants started in a temperature of $5, and ripen- 

 ed in one of 75 to 80 degs., produced all pistillates ; twelve runners from 

 these plants were selected, potted in small pots for forcing ; seven of the 

 strongest of them produced staminate flowers, the other five pistillates, like 

 their parent plants. Another set of one hundred pots last season, forced 

 very rapidly, produced plants all pistillates ; a similar set forced early this 

 season, produced all but the weakest plants perfect. 



It has been doubted whether Alice Maud, in many collections, is correct- 

 ly so ; and it has been suggested that the growers should observe whether 

 their plants are pistillates or staminates, in order to decide. 



I have submitted the above observations to you hoping they may have a 

 practical bearing on that question by showing the distinction between pistil- 

 lates and staminates to be worthless — cultivation producing either one or the 

 other. Thomas Meehan. 



Members Elected — Jos. Harrison, John Collins, Jacob Moore, and Francis 

 Metcalf. Adjourned. 



Thos. P. James, Bee. Sec, 



