1 Dec., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 558 
Pink’s Prolific.—Belongs to the old Elton pine family ; when well-grown the 
fruit is large, deep scarlet right through, and of fine flavour. Should be planted 
annually, and does better in a sandy soil than most strawberries. 
Royal Sovereign.—A very fine bright scarlet berry of good flavour ; very 
subject to disease. 
Laston’s Noble—Fruit large and early; but so far has not proved of much 
value. 
Many other named varieties are on trial; also several thousands of seed- 
lings, which have fruited for the first time this season. Among them are several 
varieties of great promise; these will be further tested and proved, and their 
character fixed during the next season, so that as strawberry culture develops 
our growers will have new and improved varieties that will give greater returns 
than any at present known. 
Raising plants from seed is the only means of obtaining new and improved 
varieties of fruit. The most likely way to accomplish this is to cross-fertilise 
the flowers by hand, though good results may be obtained by sowing seed from 
the largest and handsomest fruits. This is sure to produce some plants that 
will bear fruit equal to that from which the seed was taken, for like brings 
forth like all through creation. Nevertheless, raising new seedlings by 
hybridising or cross-breeding is the surest way to succeed. The operation in 
itself is very simple, but the operator must be endowed with patience, and 
possess a certain amount of technical knowledge. The following is the usual 
method by which it is carried out :—Having decided on the varieties to be 
crossed and which is to be the male parent and which the female or mother 
parent, the two kinds should be planted near each other, so that the pollen can 
be quickly conveyed from one flower to the other. The plants should be strong 
and healthy—never breed from diseased plants. A little management will be 
required to bring the two parent plants into flower at the same time. The 
seed-bearing parent should only be allowed to carry three or four fruit; each 
flower of these should be fertilised with pollen taken from the flower of the 
male parent. he operator will require a pocket lens and a pair of wire- 
pincers. As soon as the flowers on the future seed-bearing parent open and 
before self-fertilisation can take place, he will remove the stamens by means of 
the pincers. With the lens, he will observe the maturity of the pollen and 
the condition of the stigma; then as soon as the pollen on the stamens of the 
male parent is in a fit state he will—with the pincers—remove those 
stamens and apply their dust-like pollen to the stigma of the flowers of 
the seed-bearing parent, and the operation is complete. The seed- 
bearing plant should be covered with a piece of mosquito-net before 
any flowers open, and remain covered till the fruit is set. This will 
prevent flies or bees operating on the flowers. The seed-bearing plant should 
be watched and attended to as its requirements may need to keep it strong and 
healthy, and to protect the fruit from slugs and birds. Allow the fruit to ripen 
well before removing it from the plant; then let it remain in a warm, open 
place for a day or two, when the seeds should be sown in soil composed of one 
part loam, one part sand, and one part very rotten leaf mould or stable manure 
passed through a sieve. Well drain some pots or seed-pans and fill them with 
the soil, press it down firm with the hand, and it is then ready for the seed. 
The seed is more or less embedded on the outside of the fruit. When about 
to sow the seed, take the fruit in the left hand, and with a knife pare off the 
skin containing the seeds and drop it into a cup of water. Break up the skin 
in this, well separating the seeds. Then pass the water containing the seeds 
on to the soil prepared for them, and see that the seeds are evenly spread over 
the surface. Stand the pots in a shady place, and the seeds will begin to grow 
in a few days. ‘They should be treated the same as any other seedlings, and 
will be ready for planting out in their permanent place in March. They will 
fruit the first season. 
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