30 THE FLORIST AND 



The above are accidental causes ; the following are natural eauses. An im- 

 perfection in the sexual organs often prove abortive ; and where there is a re- 

 gular deficiency of either stamens or pistils there cannot be a reproduction. 

 It matters not the outward appearance of the blossom, if any of the organs 

 are deficient. When this is the case naturally, then no power on earth can 

 amend what nature has withheld; every plant takes its character in this re- 

 spect at its birth, and remains so during its existence. Plants with very 

 double flowers seldom bear seeds, although their sexual character is perfect. 

 Pistils and stamens are as numerous in a double flower as they are in a sin- 

 gle blossom of the same species ; but then they are not so fully developed; 

 owing to the crowded state of the petals, the pollen is not always properly 

 matured — or if it is, the petals prevent its proper diffusion, and cut off the 

 proximity of pistils and stamens, and prevents impregnation. But yet the 

 sexual character of these plants is unchanged, as they sometimes produce 

 seeds from their fullest flowers. All plants belong to one of three classes, 

 according to their sexual characters — hermaphrodite, pistillate and stamin- 

 ate. Hermaphrodites have all the faculties of reproduction ; pistillates are 

 strictly female ; staminates are males. Staminates are generally leaner, 

 more erect and less spreading, and of a drier nature, and have smaller and 

 stiffer leaves than the pistillates ; the leaves of the pistillates are larger, softer 

 and more glossy than staminates; they can never bear seeds unless they get 

 impregnated with the pollen of staminates ; when that is the case they are 

 doubly prolific — they sometimes enlarge their fleshy receptacles called fruit, 

 without being impregnated ; but then they are without seeds, generally de- 

 formed, and very apt to mould*or damp off. 



We really flattered ourselves that the strawberry question was settled. 

 Facts and science are so entirely against the Cincinnati theory, that we 

 thought that its advocates could have nothing more to say, but here we are 

 again delighted with the information that certain intelligent and enterprising 

 young men have not room for their extraordinary talents, and have com- 

 menced a revolution in botany. If authority would have any effect with 

 Messrs. Longworth, Elder & Co., we could bring forward the opinion of men 

 as old as any of them, men who are celebrated botanists, directly denying 

 the truth of their theory. But thus far they have done nothing but talk of 

 their experience which is so very great, that they have not had room left 

 for observation. The study of a few books would be of great benefit to them. 

 We respectfully suggest that they should invest $1,75 in the purchase of Gray's 

 Elements of Botany; after they have studied that carefully for a few years, 

 they might advance to Lindley's Introduction, or Schleiden's Principles of 

 Botany, but by the time they had gotten half through Gray, they will be 



