92 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Crossing and Hybridizing. 



Let me now invite your attention to the purposes of cross-fertili- 

 zation as is admirably stated by Darwin, Fuller and others. The results 

 sought in cross-fertilization of varieties, of the hybridization of species, 

 are various ; but the principal one is to produce something different 

 frem either parent. Sometimes we may aim to increase the size, or 

 change the color, texture, flavor or other characteristic of a fruit, or 

 the size, form and color of a flower, or the habit of a plant. Adapta- 

 tion of the various species and varieties of cultivated plants to specific 

 conditions is another and often important subject sought in producing 

 cross-bred plants. There are many species, and occasional varieties, 

 which have been so closely inbred in their native habitats or elsewhere, 

 that they have acquired a fixedness of character, which removals to 

 other localities, and subjection to widely different conditions, fail to 

 affect any material change in their offspring ; but by crossing and the 

 introduction of new blood or elements, the foundation of generations 

 — as it may be termed — is broken up, and wider deviations from normal 

 types soon follow. It may sometimes be necessary to introduce an 

 undesirable element in order to force a plant to break away from its 

 typical form, but when we have succeeded in this it is not generally 

 difficult to get rid of the undesirable characteristics by careful selec- 

 tion. Then, again, we cannot know in advance what will be the result 

 of crossing any two plants of the same genus or species, for even the 

 mingling of two inferior elements may result iii the production of one 

 superior to either of the originals. Still we would not advise using 

 inferior materials in preference to superior, except when it is absolutely 

 necessary to effect a desired variation, as may sometimes occur when 

 a person has but a limited number of a species or variety with which 

 to experiment. A wilding may possess some very desirable properties, 

 such as vigor, hardiness and exemption from disease, while its domes- 

 ticated representative lacks one or all of the properties; so by com- 

 bining the best elements of the two, a new and superior progeny may 

 be produced. 



We may among fruits secure size, color and texture, in fact all the 

 good qualities known to belong to or exist in a certain species, and 

 still these will be of little value unless the plant itself is adapted to 

 the soil and climate where it is cultivated. One variety of the plant 

 may be more hardy and safely endure many degrees lower temperature 



