GO 



THE FLORIST AND 



and proven. He also says that it is not the fact that there can be pistillate 

 and staminate plants of the same variety — which was disproved by Mr. Mee- 

 han's plants of McAvoy's Strawberry having two scapes from one root — one 

 bearing pistillate and the other staminate blossoms. That fact can't be de- 

 nied, for a plant was seen by the editor of the Farm Journal. Moreover, 

 they were of the true kind, for the committee of which Dr. Brinckleis chair- 

 man, awarded a premium for fruit grown on these plants. The pistillates 

 and staminates among the wild strawberries are no doubt frequent, but that 

 is but an exception to the real character of the genus, which is monoecious. It 

 is so considered by all botanists from Linnaeus down, among whom are some 

 perhaps equal to Prof. Huntsman. 



But we must not occupy any more space; the Muses have come to the aid 

 of the Cincinnatians. Lend them your ears! 



A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE STRAWBERRY QUESTION. 



When you (( hoped your friends," Mr. Editor. 



Would <( communicate the observations 

 That they had made on strawberry blooms," 



Vou got mine with discretions. 

 Since then, dear sir, you've talked of me, 



As if I'd joined the strife ; 

 1 never intended such a thing, 



As true as I'm in life. 



What was the cause of such great stir — 



Or what the strife ahout ? 

 One exclaimed, discovery ! 



Others expressed their doubt. 

 Now, what was that to you or me, 



If they should quarrel and fight ? 

 It seem'd to me, you wished to know, 



Which side your friends thought right. 



Was it knowledge for the cultivator ? 



Did it teach him the better way 

 How to raise a greater crop, 



Or was it to lead him astray ? 

 A maresnest in a strawberry bloom 



Has caused the whole dispute, 

 As skilful men of practical knowledge 



Could not all keep mute. 



William R. Prince, in Farm Journal, 



With devouring demolition, 

 Came down upon discovery, 



Causing repentance and contrition. 

 Next, thro' our well-conducted Florist, 



A champion sallied forth, 

 The friend of all good cultivators, 



Great Nicholas P. Longworth! 



The late lamented A. J. Downing, 

 Made the 'assertion' once before ; 



Then confessed his error to a friend, 

 And did repent it sore. 



Who, then, cried out, " Great light was hid, 



Or buried under a bushel!" 

 Who, then, brought Botany to test, 



Or created such a bustle ? 



Now, on what does botany rest? 



Has it any foundations ? 

 Or is it only a flirting dream — 



A fancy of variations ? 

 Is it opposed to valid truths, 



By the laws of nature proved ? 

 Them, down the gulf of Oblivion, 



lngloriously it's moved. 



Whenever Cohesion turns about 



And " pulls Newton's apple off the tree," 

 Then stamens may become pistils, 



Or pistils the contrary. 

 Then what would be the use of science, 



With such variations botanical ? 

 As changes would as frequently happen 



la theory philosophical. 



I've seen "prominence" in a strawberry bloom, 



The same in hawthorn blossom , 

 I've seen the like in all fruit trees, 



And pondered it in my bosom. 

 When the case was new to me, 



It was not so to all ; 

 Why should I've made a great ado 



About such trifles small? 



Such prominence, I am positive. 



In what 1 here recite, 

 Can never make a pistillate bloom 



A full hermaphrodite. 

 Let all your plants prove themselves, 



(Keep them free of weeds,) 

 And those will be hermaphrodites 



Of themselves, that bear good seeds. 



WALTER ELDER. 



