APPENDIX. 



125 



tion to tlie cultivation and sexes of tlie plant. From 

 the stem and leaf lie can designate some fifty varieties 

 that lie has had in cultivation. I would recommend 

 you to get his views. It is singular that after public 

 attention has been brought to the question for twenty 

 years or more, even botanists and horticultural editors 

 deny the doctrine. If generally understood, the dis- 

 covery of the ignorant market-gardener is worth mil- 

 lions of dollars. After I had made the discovery, from 

 a chance observation of a son of Mr. Abergust, I was 

 at the gardens of persons near the city of Philadelphia, 

 where Mr. Abergust resided, prior to his emoval to 

 Cincinnati, and named the matter to them. Oh,'' 

 said they, *'Ave now understand it. He lived near us, 

 and from the same space of ground raised five times 

 as much fruit as we could, and larger. Every fall he 

 thinned out his plants, and threw them in the road ; 

 we gathered them, and planted them in our gardens, 

 and they never bore a single fruit. He threw out 

 staminates only, and to deceive them. The son of Mr. 

 Abergust was in my garden a few days before my 

 plants were in blossom, and observed, '^Your straw- 

 berries bear a bad crop." I observed, such Avas the 

 fact. He added, ''They are all males." I replied, 

 " That is all nonsense. The strawberry is a plant that 

 bears flowers perfect in both organs." "I am no 

 botanist," said he, "but I know most of yours will 



