4889 
THE RURAL WEW-VORKER. 
385 
it,cal. 
DOES INFECUNDITY OF THE STRAW¬ 
BERRY SEED AFFECT THE BERRY ? 
I think we have been fostering an error in 
teaching that the imperfect-flowering va¬ 
rieties of strawberries need to be fertilized by 
the pollen of staminate varieties in order to 
insure a crop of berries. This position has 
been held so long anti has gained so full a cre¬ 
dence in the public mind that it seems to have 
crystallized into a superstition. The idea 
must have originated in the mind of some 
crafty nursoryman as a means of selling extra 
plants with which to fertilize the pistillate 
kinds; and it is kept alive year after year 
through nursery catalogues. 
Come, let us reason together : The fruit, so 
called, of the strawberry is not the fruit at 
all, but simply the stem altered to develop 
and contain the true fruit—the seeds. As 
our plants are reproduced from runners, and 
only Originators of new varieties need ferti¬ 
lized seed, there would seem to be no neces¬ 
sity for fertile seed in ordinary culture. The 
common belief that Nature avoids futile work 
and will not build up the berry unless incited 
by fecundated germs in the seeds, is dis¬ 
proved annually in our strawberry beds, 
if we could but distinguish ; but this 
would probably not be apparent to the un¬ 
aided eye. Let us take as a familiar ex¬ 
ample to the point, the single stalk of 
maize which we occasionlly see standing by it¬ 
self in some field whore it was accidentally 
dropped. The pollen, although produced 
sufficiently, generally fails to reach the ear, 
and consequently we shall find only an occa¬ 
sional kernel of corn. The cob, however, will 
not fail to attain its usual size. Now, as the 
cob and the berry fulfill exactly the same 
purpose, by analogical reasoning we should 
conclude that the strawberry, like the corn¬ 
cob, would grow equally well with no help 
from the pollen. And this conclusion is not 
based upon mere theory. It has often been 
reached by observers who know that they had 
no fertile plants in their beds. Of course, it 
may be possible that such blossoms are fertil¬ 
ized by insects bearing pollen from a neigh¬ 
bor’s, or from wild plants. But it seems 
more probable that fertilization is quite un¬ 
necessary. In my own garden, last year, a 
bed of Jersey Queens gave an abundance of 
fine berries although about fiOO yards away 
from staminate varieties. 
Non-fecundity of blossoms is the popular 
scapegoat upon which all the failures of the 
harvest are loaded. The novice sets a 
bed, as it may happen, of pistillates. 
If, for one of several possible causes, 
he gets no fruit the same season, the wiseacre 
is approached for a solution of the mystery. 
Ho opens his eyes wide, and says: “Why, you 
hain’t got no perfect blossoms to father your 
berries; no mor’ll you get any eggs f’m your 
hens without a father to your flock.” So the 
bisexuals are procured, and another year 
brings a full crop, and the full assurance that 
the only obstacle had been overcome. The 
grower of fuller experience is familiar with 
several causes why the berry crop may fail— 
immaturity in the plants, severe winter 
weather, late spring frosts, blight from other 
causes, grubs at the roots, etc. 
It is commonly urged as a detriment to a va¬ 
riety that it is a pistillate, and a seedling of 
this or that well known pistillate is heralded 
as superior to its parent because it has perfect 
flowers. A little reasoning here will show 
this conclusion to be diametrically opposed to 
the probable; for it is a fact that our most 
productive varieties are pistillate, as a rule. 
The Crescent, Windsor, Manchester, Bubach, 
Jewell, Lida, Warfield, Cloud, Haverland, all 
pistillates,cannot be matched among the stam- 
inates for the amount of berries produced. 
Now, is it not quite reasonable to assume that 
the unnecessary production of the male ele¬ 
ment in tne bisexuals is a waste of force, 
which in the pistillate varieties is not wasted, 
but turned into the useful channel 
of berry-production ? Division of labor 
always is economical. The female bee won’t 
tolerate a lot of useless male sentiment around, 
but promptly gets the surest kind of a divorce, 
and the hive is soon filled. Our pistillates 
are the true “workers,” and the sooner 
they are recognized as such, the better for 
berry-growers. 
In considering the fact that surprising 
crops are often grown with two or more va¬ 
rieties intermingled, I would urge as a prob¬ 
able cause that their different habits of 
growth may enable them more fully to occupy 
and utilize the soil than one variety by it¬ 
self could do. In the same way, if cultiva¬ 
tion and proper fertility are kept up, we are 
told that apples, peaches, currants and straw¬ 
berries may be set upon the same land, with 
economy of space and no apparent dimi¬ 
nution of yield. 
I believe this to be a subject of importance 
to fruit-growers. Let us have some actual ex¬ 
periments, and if the old doctrine of the im¬ 
portance of fecundated seeds is to hold, let it 
be through experimental knowledge instead 
of theory. I propose the coming season to 
make a conclusive test of this matter, by 
shielding a small number of pistillate plants 
from insects by the use of netting, at a suffi¬ 
cient distance from bisexuals that the wind 
may not carry the pollen to them. I would 
suggest this test to the readers of the Rural, 
so that we may have an abundance of testi¬ 
mony. FRED. W. PROCTOR. 
Worcester County, Mass. 
THE TAM WORTH BREED OF SWINE. 
A. B. ALLEN. 
Efforts of English swine-breeders to evolve 
a better ham and bacon breed modeled on 
the old Berkshire ; things still to be done 
to secure it ; things to be avoided ; Berk- 
shires for palatable hams and bacon ; what 
farmers should aim at. 
These are supposed to be the descendants, 
in England, of the old unimproved Berkshires, 
but more or less mixed with other kinds for a 
long time past. Some American breeders 
have thought lately of importing a few of 
them, believing that if they did so, they would 
possess the pure old stock. But so far as 1 am 
informed, they will get no nearer to it than the 
Jersey Red, or Duroc-Jersey, which is quite 
abundant already in New Jersey, the North¬ 
ern part of New York, and three or four 
Western States. These, aiso, like the English 
breed, have been mixed considerably with 
other swine; but latterly selections have been 
made from them of animals of a pure red 
color only, or spotted with more or less black, 
with shapes and points as nearly like those of 
the Improved Berkshire of the present time, 
as they can be found; though the selections 
are generally of large size and coarser in their 
make-up. The best specimen of these have 
been recorded in a Herd Book, and the pos¬ 
sessors of the models are breeding as true to 
them now as they can. 
Of the Tam worth, the London Live Stock 
Journal thus speaks: 
“Something still remains to be done to 
bring this variety ot swine to a state of the 
highest perfection. Breeders are increasing 
rapidly and the type of animal is being im¬ 
proved. To succeed completely, it must have 
still quicker growth; it must grow to a great¬ 
er size within the year, it must be more 
distinct in type, and more uniform in color 
ana in points generally. Tamworth breeders 
should refrain from showing'spotted pigs, or 
pigs of lighter color, in fact, than those which 
are of a rich sandy red. They want greater 
depth of ham and breadth of loin, retaining 
the depth of the flank and the length of the 
body. Directly, however, they commence to 
breed for short noses and small ears, they will 
put a check on the propensity of the breed to 
expand, as well in size as in popularity. The 
Tamworth breed produces good, salable ba¬ 
con; the other pure breeds, (except the Im¬ 
proved Berkshire), taking them collectively, 
produce bacon which is much too fat.” 
American red swine breeders should heed 
well what is said by this Euglish journal 
about breeding short noses on their swine,and 
I will also add, fat jowls. This' has been 
pursued to some extent lately by a few 
American breeders of the Improved Berk¬ 
shire. In consequence of this such stock turn 
out an increased percentage of fat in the hams 
and bacon, and make these parts of the 
swine less desirable to consumers. What the 
latter desire is tender, juicy, lean meat as 
free from fat as possible. I have had Berk¬ 
shire hams weighing SO pounds or more each, 
and the rim of fat oovering them was not over 
half an inch thick. The rest of the ham was 
nicely marbled—that is, very flue streaks of 
fat, little larger than a hair, ran through the 
lean in all its parts, rendering it juicy, 
savory and tender. The bacon was streaked 
in a similar way, and this is what consumers 
desire. 
Choice lean hams and bacon bring an extra 
price both at home and abroad,and our farm¬ 
ers ought to take particular pains to produce 
them. In order to do this their swine should 
be reared without corn, as this is too fatten¬ 
ing Let them have grass pasture and pump¬ 
kins and other vegetables,bran, middlings and 
barley, oat, rye and wheat meals, and for 
the last two or three weeks of their fatting, 
Indian meal. 
Woman’s Work. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY LOUISE TAPLIN. 
CHAT BY THE WAY. 
S TRAIGHT and narrow are the ways of 
fashion at present, straight skirts guilt, 
less of bustle, held in place by the smallest 
reeds and tiniest pads are the high¬ 
est mode. Round bodices or jack¬ 
ets are trimmed with fichus or revers. 
The fichu, which has been out of date for 
some years, is now revived, and a very co¬ 
quettish appendage it is, when rightly worn. 
Fine embroidered mull in all colors forms some 
of the prettiest of these trimmings. Pale 
green, pale yellow, pale blue and faint pink 
are alike charming. A sprigged or flowered 
muslin gown, with plain, straight skirt,round 
waist and full sleeves, is charming with a 
fichu knotted gracefully in front, and a sash 
looped on one side. 
* * * 
The Directoire sashes are very handsome; 
they are of silk, wider than ordinary sash 
ribbon, having a knotted fringe and a band of 
contrasting stripes across each end. One of 
old rose had stripes of cream, bronze, Nile 
and olive green; another in cream had the 
stripes of deepbrown, terra-cotta, and willow- 
green. They are worn knotted at one side, 
and form a beautiful finish for a white frock. 
* * * 
Everything now is after either the Direc¬ 
tory or the first Empire. Chief among the 
Directoire garments are the long, straight, 
redingotes; they are the most useful, most be¬ 
coming, and most popular of garments. They 
are becoming to most figures. With them 
are worn the Directoire poke hats—flat- 
crowned scoops with the trimming chiefly 
near the back, falling towards the front. But 
one may wear nearly everything nowadays, 
and yet be in the fashion—at least, if the gar¬ 
ment is becoming. 
TRAINING IN HOUSEWIFERY FOR 
SCHOOL GIRLS. 
OLIVE E. DANA. 
I T seems to me that the most efficient and 
natural training of school-girls in house¬ 
wifery is that which meets a real need. The 
assistance, be it ever so small at times, which 
relieves the mother of work and care, is, if 
cheerfully, systematically, intelligently ren¬ 
dered, the child’s best discipline and ever- 
strengthening bond of sympathy and inti¬ 
macy. It should begin very early, ere the 
little daughter has left the mother’s side for 
her earliest school-days. And the donning of 
school-girlish ways should not imply the doff¬ 
ing of those habits of helpfulness. 
To “do as mother does! ” What a large pro¬ 
portion of the child’s happiest hours is filled 
with this endeavor. For this are the tiny 
broom and wash-board and flat-iron, the 
thimble and scissors and work-basket 
bought. For this the bits of dough are given 
from tho maternal bread-board, the little 
table is made ready for mimic ironing or eat¬ 
ing; just as her own are, so dolly’s clothes 
must be cut and made, washed and ironed; 
though the little hands are blistered in the at¬ 
tempt. And “to help mother” is a yet 
stronger motive. Dolly’s affairs lose their 
charm, the toys their importance, if the little 
lassie can smooth “ real ” towels or stockings, 
help to set the family table, use the short- 
handled broom so that mother may not have 
so frequently to use the longer one. 
Thus begun, the little maiden’s training 
goes on by a sort of natural progression, lifting 
many a task from the mother’s shoulders, aud 
satisfying the child’s ambition with a sense 
of increasing skill aud usefulness. Even the 
absorbing interests of later-school days, the 
academy recitations, compositions, clubs, 
readings, papers, do not displace these duties, 
aud they hold the girl sometimes to home in¬ 
fluences at a time when other claims are most 
exacting aud most keenly felt, keeping a 
wholesome balance when class-room ambi¬ 
tions and passing friendships,or even worthier 
interests might weigh too heavily in the girl¬ 
ish estimate. 
But we are often reminded that the assist¬ 
ance of the daughters of tho household is not 
always most strictly required of them by the 
mothers who most need it. Mistaken tender¬ 
ness, foolish pride, or a dislike to exact the 
tasks which the child may dislike to perform, 
with other motives intervene. It is very 
often the daughter whose services could be 
dispensed with.from a pecuniary point of view, 
who helps about the cooking an 1 mending, 
looks after the dusting and the table, interests 
herself m true sisterly fashion with^the 
younger children, and delights in all house¬ 
wifely accomplishments, while maybe her 
schoolmate, born and bred in a household 
where her services would seem to be indispen¬ 
sable, is relieved of both care and toil in this 
direction. 
Yet such a course is not only unwise; it is 
unjust both to the child herself and to the 
rest of the household. She is missing her 
first, best chance for domestic attainment; 
the mother rest and leisure and daughterly 
sympthy; and the family the real, solid, daily 
comfort the child might learn to secure. But 
even with the best intentions on either side, 
» 
better results might often be attained by bet¬ 
ter methods. There are some points regard¬ 
ing which a few suggestions might be made, 
even to the most judicious mothers, and such 
are readiest to learn. 
And, first, it is not to be expected that the 
art ot housekeeping can be mastered by even 
the most diligent use of a school girl’s leisure 
persisted in through girlhood with the long 
vacations thrown in. At nest, experience,no¬ 
where more essential, would be lacking. And, 
moreover, in the time at her disposal, the girl 
can perform each week but a very small part 
of the actual house-work. A certain Dart she 
may do; and if there be more than one daugh¬ 
ter it may be of appreciable value to a syste¬ 
matic housekeeper. 
Right here comes my principal caution: 
Do not let the daughter have the very same 
tasks from week to week, from month to 
month, from year to year. Vary them, so 
that her duties may include, in time, as large 
a proportion as possible of the housekeeper’s 
varying tasks. And if there are several girls, 
is it not better for them to change work oc¬ 
casionally ? Better for their own discipline, 
surely, though each prefers her congenial 
work. Because Alice will dust a room more 
deftly,while Emily wields the broom with ad¬ 
mirable energy,is no good reason,other things 
being equal, why Emilj should not learn the 
care and skill that insure a dustless, inviting 
parlor, or Alice, in her turn, learn to sweep 
corners, back rooms and all, and gain maybe 
muscle and vigor in so doing. 
Nor do Effie’s culinary accomplishments, 
much as the household enjoys them, justify 
the mistress of the home in excusing her from 
all chamber work and from Amending and 
sewing. And it certainly is not fair to put 
upon one all the wasning of dishes. There 
might be a rotation as well as a division of 
labor, especially in vacation times. 
And again, because mother can cut and 
baste so expeditiously, and always get the 
best results from any given quantity of cloth, 
ought the daughters, therefore, always to in¬ 
sist on her doing such work for them? Would 
they not better acquire a little of her ability, 
even at the cost of a yard or two of goods? 
And do they leave it to her to plan and to 
perform all the “extras?” The making of 
bedding of different sorts, the planning of 
carpets and laying the same, and all bits of 
work relating to house-furnishing, the annual 
preservings and lard-tryiugs, and sausage and 
mince-meat making, the care of the table 
linen and many another duty, are included 
in this long, broad, high art of housewifery. 
And the maiden who aims at perfection 
therein will do well not to neglect them. 
And it seems to me that though mother’s 
judgment is best and safest, yet the daughter 
ought to be gaining a little of her own in the 
way of household shopping. How else is she 
ever going to know about these things—the 
right sort of goods for different purposes, the 
varying qualities, and the reasonable prices 
to pay therelor? 
Ah! it takes time and patience, and a will¬ 
ing heart and hand to learn it, this home¬ 
making and home-keeping; but rightly learn¬ 
ed, is it not its own reward? 
OUTINGS IN NEW ENGLAND. 
VIII. 
MARY WAGER-FISHER. 
F ROM Brant Rock we turned our steps in¬ 
land, going by a zigzag route to Mid- 
dleboro, the country presenting a better ap¬ 
pearance as the scrub oaks aud stone fences of 
the coast farms were left behind. Every¬ 
where there were apple trees loaded with 
fruit, and although the laud must .be in” fact 
more productive than it is popularly supposed 
to be, still the New England farmers cannot 
compete with those of the West, and so all 
Yapkee land has practically become a manu¬ 
facturing district. Nevertheless,! was every¬ 
where impressed with the idea'that the young 
native-born’, women of .Massachusetts .could 
do better in every way .by cultivating small 
fruits than by toiling in the factories,^,as so 
many of them do—there is such a vast popula¬ 
tion and it is so generally.Jdistributed. as to 
make markets everywhere accessible. 
