The blossom of the Jewell contains
pistils only, and will produce no fruit unless a staminate variety
is planted near. I have never considered this an objection against
a variety; for why should any one wish to raise only one variety
of strawberry? All danger of barrenness in pistillate kinds is
removed absolutely by planting staminate sorts in the same bed. In
nurserymen's catalogues pistillate varieties are marked "P.," and
the purchaser has merely to set out the plants within a few feet
of some perfect flowering kind to secure abundant fruit.
As a result of much experience, I will now make some suggestions
as to varieties. In a former paper I have given, the opinions of
others upon this important subject, and one can follow the advice
of such eminent authorities without misgiving. The earliest
strawberry that I have ever raised, and one of the best flavored,
is the Crystal City. It is evidently a wild variety domesticated,
and it has the exquisite flavor and perfume of the field-berry. It
rarely fails to give us fruit in May, and my children, with the
unerring taste of connoisseurs, follow it up until the last berry
is picked. It would run all over the garden unchecked; and this
propensity must be severely curbed to render a bed productive.
Keeping earliness and high flavor in view, I would next recommend
the Black Defiance.
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