


227 
on the average, were notably more vigorous and productive than 
those from the Bidwell. We were interested to note that all of the 
plants resembled their parents, with two exceptions. Two seedlings 
from the Manchester were evidently reversions to the wild Fragarva 
vesca, bearing fruit scarcely larger, and no better in flavor, than the 
plants of this species found growing wild in the fence corners. 
A row of seedlings grown in 1882 from seed of the Monarch of the 
West, and which came into bearing in 1884, bore the past season 
more, larger, and better flavored fruit, than did a row of Wilson, 
growing alongside, and set at the same time. 
The influence of different pollens vpon the character of the Straw- 
berry. 
With the hope of gathering evidence upon this important but un- 
settled question, we made a few experiments, of which we here give 
the results. 
The cross-fertilization was all done artificially upon potted plants. 
In order to avoid, beyond question, the interference of insects in the 
fertilization, the plants were removed to the green-house when the 
first flowers were about to open, and inclosed in a frame covered 
with mosquito netting. ‘'T'o avoid currents of air, the pots were set 
aside from the ventilating doors. The frame covering the plants 
was kept fastened to its place, and was never raised except to per- 
form the work of cross-fertilization. The varieties experimented 
with, were the Crescent and Sharpless. The Crescent blossoms pro- 
duced no fertile stamens. The stamens from the Sharpless blos- 
soms were removed, either before the petals opened or immediately 
afterward. It was found difficult to remove the stamens before the pet- 
als opened, without mutilating the receptacle more or less, and hence 
in the majority of cases these were removed immediately afterward. 
In all cases where there was the least doubt as to whether or not the 
stamens were capable of giving off pollen, the flower was discarded 
and removed. In the Sharpless fertilized with Sharpless, the flowers 
were castrated the same as when fertilized with other pollens. 
At first, difficulty was experienced in securing pollen for the fer- 
tilization, but after a few trials, it was found that by picking the 
blooms shortly after the petals opened, and spreading them in a still 
room for 24 hours, the pollen was given off in abundance. It is 
probable that the partial drying of the pollen sacs causes them to 
open promptly, and thus to yield their pollen nearly all at once. 
The cross-fertilization was performed by bringing the stamen in di- 
rect contact with the pistil. The pollen of the wild strawberry 
(Fragaria vesca) was used for fertilizing several blossoms of both va- 
rieties ; but, to our surprise, not one of these flowers produced a 
fruit, although the pollen was applied to each at least twice, and 
with the same thoroughness as in case of the cultivated varieties. 
After the plants had ceased blooming, they were taken from the 
greenhouse to a well prepared bed in the garden, where they were 
removed from the pots and planted out. 
As the berries ripened, they were picked and drawn by Prof. Ar- 
thur to their exact size and shape. In cases where a single drawing 
would not suffice to give a correct idea of the form, the fruit was 
drawn in two positions. 
