668 
THE STRAWBERRY. 
The second class, to which belong various other sorts, such 
as Hovey’s Seedling, Black Prince, etc., producing only pistil 
bearing flowers, do not set fruit at all when grown quite apart 
by themselves ; but when grown near a proper number of 
staminate plants, so as to be duly fertilized by them, they bear 
much larger crops, of much more perfect berries, than can be 
produced in this climate in any other way. 
This is no longer a matter of theory, for the market of Cin- 
cinnati, in which are sold six thousand bushels of strawberries 
annually, is supplied more abundantly and regularly than per- 
haps any other in the world, by this very mode of culture. 
In planting strawberry beds, it is important, therefore, to 
the cultivator, to know which are the staminate , and which the 
'pistillate , varieties — as they are found to be permanent in these 
characters. We have, accordingly, designated these traits in 
the descriptions of the varieties which follow. 
Upon the relative proportion of staminates to pistillate plants, 
cultivators are not absolutely agreed. Where, however, such 
hardy sorts as the Large Early Scarlet, or Boston Pine, are 
chosen for staminates , it is sufficient to plant one-eighth as many 
of these as of pistillates , to insure a full crop of the latter. 
When staminate sorts, like Keen’s Seedling, or like less hardy 
kinds, are chosen, then the proportion should be one-third to 
two-thirds of pistillates. 
Thus, in planting in the alternate-strip mode, let every twelve 
feet of each strip be planted with Hovey’s Seedling (pistillate), 
and the succeeding four feet with Large Early Scarlet. A very 
little trouble, bestowed when the runners are extending across 
the open spaces, will preserve the proportion good from year to 
year. The appearance of a plat, planted in this way, will be as 
follows : S represents staminate , and P pistillate , varieties. 
In planting in beds, the same course may be adopted, 
or, what is perhaps better, every third or fourth bed 
may be entirely staminate, and the rest pistillate sorts 
(the beds in this case being supposed to be side by 
side). 
Nothing is easier than to distinguish the two classes 
of strawberries when in blossom. In one, the stami- 
nate, the long yellow anthers (a), bearing the fine dust 
or pollen, are abundant ; in the other, the pistillate , 
only the cluster of pistils (6), looking like a very minute 
green strawberry, is visible — (that is to the common 
observer, for the wanting organs are merely rudimen- 
tary, and not developed). 
s s s 
s s s 
888 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
P P 
8 S 
S S 8 
8 8 8 
8 8 8 
