76 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 



to change the crude juice, hard pulp and peculiar fragrance that 

 marks the most of them. (See the Horticulturist of Sept., 1847, 

 p. 122. 



8. I cannot but desire a thorough exploration of some of the 

 valleys of our northern rivers, as the Hudson and the Connecti- 

 cut, in the hope of finding native varieties, if not of the highest 

 excellence, of sufficient value to be worthy of extensive culture. 



9. We seem then, con'sidering the question of the high value 

 and wide availability of the seedlings already originated, as unset- 

 tled, driven to make additional efforts to procure a seedling grape 

 combining hardiness, early maturity, free bearing and high qual- 

 ity for the table. There are two modes of accomplishing this. 



a. We may plant the seeds of wild sorts in the hope that, 

 under the power of culture, they may sport into new and valuable 

 varieties. The same may be done with the seeds of the old 

 valuable sorts. Experience, however, proves that the seedlings 

 from such sources are seldom much improvement on the parent; 

 those from the wild one being wild still, and those from the luscious, 

 foreign sorts often proving wild also. Such results, indeed, were 

 to be expected from the analogy of the apple, peach, pear, &c. 



b. The method by hybridization is superior to the former, since 

 by it we are able, with certainty, to combine the very different 

 and yet valuable quality of very different sorts. See remarks on 

 this subject in the Horticulturist, volume, 2d, p. 113; vol. 3d. 

 pp. 21 and 291. A cross made in this way between such varieties 

 as the Hesperione, Black Hamburgh or Golden Chasselas, with 

 such native sorts as the Isabella or Catawba, would be likely to 

 result in new and valuable sorts, combining the lusciousness and 

 freedom from pulp of the foreign with the hardy constitution of 

 the native sorts. Those familiar with the process of hybridizing 

 advise the assumption of the hardy variety as that on which to 

 operate, while the pollen from impregnation should be taken 

 from the foreign sort. Mr. Lindley sums up the results of such 

 experiments thus : (See Horticulturist, vol. 3d, p. 25.) 



" 1st. The character of the male parent becomes more fully 

 developed in the flower and parts of fructification in the progeny, 

 than those of the female. 2d. The character and constitution 

 and foliage of the female are, to a great extent, transferred to 

 the progeny." 



