2G2 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



heated to 35° the wheat is in danger, though in disinfecting my seed- 

 wheat this fall, in one lot I let the heat get up to 38° for a short time; 

 the wheat was put to one side and 10 grains of it were planted in a^ 

 flower-pot; they all grew, yet two of them made pebble-plants. I do 

 not think that it is safe to let the heat of the water get above 35° F. 



F. LlONBERGER. 



THE productio:n^ of new seedling GEAPES. 



It is a well-known fact that the selection of seeds from the best 

 specimens is the only sure method of producing improved varieties. 



It then follows as a corollary that the only certain and successful 

 way to grow those seeds is to fertilize their bloom with the pollen of 

 congenial, characteristic, healthy, desirable varieties. 



How to most easily accomplish that result is the object of this 

 article. It is well known that many of our best grapes (as well as 

 other fruits ) are the result of " chance seedlings," as the Catawba^ 

 Bland, Delaware, Isabella and Norton Virginia. These grapes, while 

 good for certain purposes and locations, did not fully meet the demand 

 of our progressive age and refined taste. We became acquainted with 

 the fine quality of the European grapes, and in our eager desire to 

 possess those of such high excellence we sought hybridization as the 

 only sure method of producing them. 



We never considered for a moment by what method and how long 

 a time it took to originate them. It is very certain that we have no 

 account of it being done by hybridization or forced crossing, as these 

 methods were not then known. It then must have been the result of 

 domestication and natural congenial pollenization. 



Hybridization is a violent forced fertilization and is seldom if ever 

 congenial. Nature rarely if ever employs it, or there would be no dis- 

 tinctive species. 



We hope by these brief introductory remarks that we are under- 

 stood. 



There are two well-known theories given for the production of 

 improved fruits, one by Dr. Van Mons, of Belgium, the other by Thos. 

 Andrew Knight, Esq., of England. 



The former advocated the planting the seeds of wild varieties that 

 have been domesticated or cultivated, and then plant their seeds and 

 continue that method through successive generations until you get 

 what you desire. 



