394 The Strawberry Question. 
less they erred as to their character.) was a genuine Hovey's Seed- 
ling, but they were misled by contusing other varieties with it — in 
some cases the whole bed being of a dilierent kind and in other cases, 
the beds must have been composed of Hovey's Seedling and some 
other variety mixed. Not one of the Transpositions of Hovey's 
Seedlina: that Mr. D. speaks of ever took place, but he was misled 
by the circumstances to which I have alluded, or by others. 
The error of Mr. Hovey in originally supposing his seeding a 
perfect plant capable of producing fruit of itself, arose from the 
proximity of some staminate variety; and the errors of Mr. Down- 
ing, both on this and various other points at issue, have arisen 
from the juxtaposition referred to, one variety fertilizing the other, 
and also from errors in the names, and from admixure of varieties 
in the same bed, as Mr. Longworth supposes; which several 
causes have prevented him from forming correct conclusions, and 
have resulted in an incongruous mass of erroneous positions. 
The ideal doctrine of ^Ir. Downing, that " all strawberry plants 
in their natural state are perfect in both organs, and that stami- 
nate or pistillate ones are chance monstrosities produced from high 
cultivation," is a radical error, and contradicted by facts well 
known to every close observer. And the opinion expressed by 
Mr. D. that plants, however perfect, will degenerate into the pis- 
tillate form from overbearing and consequent debility, and that 
Hovey's Seeding has done so, carries with it two absurdities. In 
the first place, — if such variation were caused by exhaustion, 
powerful nourishment would produce a restoration, and secondly, 
the position that a plant overworked and debilitated, should 
thenceforth assume the power of being more productive than ever, 
is contrary to the whole order of nature. If such a rule could be 
applied to man and quadrupeds, the result would be vastly impor- 
tant and beneficial, and it is with much regret that I express my 
doubts. This second position, it will be also perceived, strikes 
directly at another opinion advanced by Mr. D., that when a plant 
has reached this state, it will produce finer and more abundant 
crops " because the whole blossoms (meaning the whole force,) of 
the pistillate plant is devoted to the fruit itself," for, however ra- 
tional and correct this position may be as advanced by Mr. Hunts- 
man in respect to plants in their natural vigorous state, it can 
scarcely be deemed by any rational mind to apply with equal force 
to varieties that have attained this character from unnatural and 
absolute prostration. I have waded along thus far in this ques- 
tion, although, after reading several articles and finishing with 
Mr. Downing's last one, I felt as to replying just as Mr. Webster 
did at Faneuil Hall two years since, only with the difference of a 
single word: Mr. Webster then remarked, "Where shall I go?" 
I asked myself, Where shall I begin? 
