MR. EDITOR:—Who among horticulturists has not heard of the
“Strawberry Question”—has not wondered at the opposite opinions
held by eminent cultivators, and perhaps like myself has
been surprised that the spirit of inquiry has not been more
generally diffused concerning a subject of so much importance.
Is it because our instructors cannot come to a unanimous
conclusion upon it, that we pupils in horticulture have been
doubtful about expressing our opinions upon it, or have we
never studied the subject for ourselves but left them in their
wisdom to decide it for us? I was in this position waiting for
their decision, but as it was not likely to be forthcoming, I
resolved to study the subject for myself, have done so this
season, and will give you my experience in connection with the
“Strawberry Question.”
The points of difference between a staminate and pistillate
strawberry flower are so marked that a very casual observer
cannot fail to notice them at once, for in staminate varieties
the flowers are lax, the sepals of the calyx appear alternately
with the petals of the corolla, the stamens occupy the most
prominent place in the flower, rising half their length above
the central pistils, are very much swelled at the base, and
very large compared with the other parts of the flower, anthers
broadly heart shaped, large, and producing abundance of pollen.
Pistils, loose, long, and having a barren appearance, which is
soon proved by their withering away, and leaving the stamens
masters of the field. The embryo receptacle when it does
exist at all is very much flattened, and in the most of cases
cannot be said to exist at all, the pistils being inserted in
the thickened cup of the calyx. All flowers that have this
appearance in these varieties, very soon wither away and leave
this impression on the mind of the observer, that they were
surely staminate varieties. But as all staminate varieties do
not thus wither away, but many of them produce fruit, it may be
asked are the flowers all the same in appearance. It is here
where the peculiarities in this class are met with, for there
are few but what produce some fruit, and as real staminate
flowers could not produce this fruit, it would readily be seen
that staminate varieties produce two sorts of flowers; the
one where the organs are unequally balanced which produce no
fruit, the other where the flowers are perfect and are fruit
bearing. The appearance of the flower that will produce fruit
is markedly different from the other—by the shortness of the
stamens, the conical shaped receptacle, the pistils stiff and
thickly set thereon. The flower is altogether more compact, and
is as perfect in its organs as any of the Alpine varieties. The
following sorts have proved staminate with me.
Cuthill’s Black Prince, Boston Pine, Kittley’s Goliath, Alice
Maud, British Queen, Ross’s Phœnix, and Victoria.
Among pistillate varieties, the flowers are cup shaped,
compact, with the sepals of the calyx scarcely perceptible
between the petals of the corolla. Stamens seldom visible,
and when seen at all they are very minute, not longer than
the pistils at the base of receptacle, never showing signs
of having fertilizing powers, as the anthers never expand;
the whole remains perfectly abortive. Pistils very numerous,
uniform, stout, longer than in perfect flowers, and have not
such a feathery appearance as in staminate sorts. Receptacle
large, conical, always coming to perfection, and the instances
where pistillate flowers do not produce berries are very rare,
in fact scarcely ever to be met with; at least my sorts have
proved so; and it is reasonable to conclude that this has been
occasioned by the sorts growing together. The following sorts
have proved pistillate with me.
Bourbon Pine, Hudson, Swanson, Burr’s Pine, Hovey’s Seedling,
Iowa, and Moyamensing.
The varieties enumerated, I have growing together (both
pistillate and staminate) under what might be called the
ordinary mode of cultivation in one place; and in another
completely isolated from them, I have a collection of the same
sorts which have stood some years longer, and are almost worn
out. But this difference of situation, culture, &c. don’t at
all seem to have affected or in the least degree altered the
organs of re-production in any variety; for to me it seems that
the character of pistillate or staminate is as permanent and
unchangeable as in any other deciduous plant.
A writer in one of the periodicals of the day, supposes it
possible that the receptacle of the strawberry might enlarge,
or even come to perfection without staminate influence having
at all been required. That the experiment of planting a
pistillate strawberry in a situation where staminate influence
could not reach it and that plant produce no berry, is the
fact; as was proved by a cultivator in this neighborhood:
but it is to be hoped that the coming season will be taken
advantage of by many of your correspondents, for making
experiments that will place this question in such a clear
and forcible manner before the public, so that all may be
convinced, and those interested in the culture of this fruit
may take advantage of, and turn to good account the information
received.