02 American Hoi'ticulfnnil Socidy. 



so almndant within our re;ich of selecting the .seed tlmt will give new and 

 ini]troved varieties of fruits in the natural way, more certain and satisfactory 

 than the unnatural, artificial mode of impregnation. 



For the want of closer oh.servation on the i)art of our ancestors, it ha.s been 

 reservetl for the present generation to discover and make known the fact 

 which hatl always existed, though not observed, that the size, flavor, texture 

 and general appearance of strawberries grown on pistillate plants will resem- 

 ble those grown on the hermaphrodite plants that produce the pollen which 

 impregnated the pistillate sorts. And that this jirinciple iipi)lies not only to 

 pistillate varieties, like Manchester, Crescent and others, but also perfect 

 flowering varieties, like Wilsons and Sharpless grown together, give larger, 

 more irregular and better flavored Wilsons than when grown alone, while 

 the Sharpless were darker in color, firmer and more acid than when alone. 

 Here, then, we have cross-fertilization in the natural way. and we are sure 

 that seedlings grown from them will be cross-bred, partaking somewhat of 

 the characteristics of both parents, but when cross-fertilization has been per- 

 formed artificially we are not sure that th« offspring is cross-bred, especially 

 if there is no perceptible change in flesh or pulp of the fruit producing the 

 seed. Some people may think their pet seedlings are cross-bred, because 

 they tried to have them so, when in reality they are not. The effect of this 

 natural crossing is visible on the fruit before it is gathered, and we know 

 just which berries to select for seed to get the benefit of the cross. May not 

 this principle apply to all fruits and flowers that produce pollen for the im- 

 pregnation of their own or the pistils of other flowers. It has long been 

 recognized with regard to vine " truck." It is well known that squashes, 

 cantaloupes and cucumbers planted i;ear together will mix and amalgamate 

 so as to destroy the appearance and good qualities of each other. A grain 

 of red corn in a field of another color will impress its character on the sur- 

 rounding hills as far as the pollen extends. The value of a patch of watermel- 

 ons may be entirely destroyed by the admixture of pumpkin or preserving 

 citron seed. 



We once had a field of watermelons with some missing hills that needed 

 replanting. Not having seed of our own, we procured some of a neighbor 

 who, ever ready to do a good turn, furni,<hed them without charge, which, 

 upon trial, were dear enough, as they produced preserving citrons, the pol- 

 len of which contaminated the whole field. The melons grew finely and 

 were very tempting to travelers passing by. One day an old acquaintance 

 living in the village a few miles off, who expected to have a comj)any of 

 his friends to dine with him the next day, hap]iened to l)e passing along in 

 his carriage. Seeing an abundance of fine looking melons within conve- 

 nient reach, and thinking they might help out with the entertainment, and 

 that he was well enough acquainted to help himself without further ceremony, 

 he did so, and took home with him a few nice looking melons. Next day, 

 when he and invited friends were comfortably seated around the table, those 

 fine looking melons were brought in with a carving knife by side of them. 



