MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 263 



This method does not answer our advanced and progressive age, 

 and at the best, it is too slow and uncertain. 



The latter method, by Mr. Knight, is in cross-breeding and hy- 

 bridization, which so far has been tolerably successful in production of 

 new flowers and plants, but we have few fruits produced by it of great 

 riierit. The diflSculty appears to be that we have no way to determine 

 the congenial pollen for any flower. It is entirely left to the imagina- 

 tion of the operator. This is proven by the results as well as from the 

 fact that the pollen of the same flower will not ahvays fertilize its own 

 bloom. This has been frequently observed in stamiuate strawberries 

 that have sufficient pollen to fertilize other varieties, while it fails to 

 pollenize its own bloom, showing clearly a want of congeniality. This 

 being true beyond a doubt, how then are we to know and determine 

 the congenial pollen for any flower to produce a given result? 



Then there is no reason to wonder why it is like chance seedlings, 

 with more blanks than prizes. Having shown the difficulty in both of 

 these methods, we will now give what has proven to be the most suc- 

 cessful and satisfactory with us. It is not only the most satisfactory, 

 but the most remarkable and surprising in its results. 



If we had every species and variety of grapes at our command, 

 and the selection of pollen from any of them and the mother plant also, 

 we cannot see how we could possibly accomplish the same results, with 

 such a degree of certainty and in such short time. To produce hardy, 

 healthy and productive seedling grapes from our native varieties or 

 species, of the high character of the European grapes, appears beyond 

 belief, yet it has been done. 



To show that this is so, we will give the facts and let the reader 

 draw his own conclusions. 



About 50 years ago, Mr. John Burr, then a resident of Columbus, 

 Ohio, commenced the production of seedling strawberries from selected 

 seed from the few varieties then in existence. In this he was so suc- 

 cessful that the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, of which he was a 

 member, awarded him the honor of producing the finest lot of seedling, 

 among which was "Burr's New Pine," which at this day is considered 

 the highest standard of excellence. 



Having been so successful in the production of strawberries from 

 such few IndifTereut varieties, it is no wonder he should have been san- 

 guine that he could produce similar results with the grape. In 1860 

 he removed to his present place and turned his attention to the pro- 

 duction of seedling grapes. He planted on his lot the Catawba, Bland, 

 Isabella, Delaware, Hartford Prolific and Concord ; then added Salem 

 and Goethe ; with these few varieties he commenced ; not even a neigh- 



