104 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



year. Municipal and luitioiial reforms never come, except through the united 

 efforts of individuals. England's Magna Charta was not obtained for the 

 mere asking. 



It is liopeful and cheering that many of our best statesmen are awake to the 

 fact that the people cannot stand the present rate of taxation in times like 

 these, and are well aware that states, cities, and individuals must retrench col- 

 lectively and individually. The late Governor of this State in his farewell 

 address, tlie Governor of AVisconsin, and most especially Governor Iiobinson of 

 the State of New York, are awake to the subject, and give us wholesome advice, 

 and stump-speech -making candidates for office are aware that they must preach 

 reform in order to succeed. 



Perhaps I owe an apology for so long occupying the time of tliis assembly 

 with topics not strictly pomological, but I was allowed by our Secretary to 

 choose my own subject, and I had little hopes of entertaining such an assem- 

 blage as would be likely to be here on this occasion, with matters pertaining to 

 pomology alone. The extracting and cremating fruit trees by the thousand 

 that I had planted myself, has diminished what little confidence I had in my 

 ability to advise others on the subject of pomology. 



Prof. AV. J. Beal, of Lansing, then took the floor and addressed the audi- 

 ence upon the topic, 



LONGEVITY OF VAKIETIES AND EACES. 



To begin with, let us consider the question, what is a variety and what is a 

 race ? 



The seeds from one plant may not all produce plants quite alike, especially 

 if they are sown in different places and treated differently as to light, heat, 

 moisture, richness and texture of the soil. The seeds of these plants after a 

 year or more of such diverse treatment, will, or may produce individuals so dis- 

 tinct from each other that some or all of them may be called distinct varieties. 



All varieties of plants, using the term in its accurate signification, can only 

 be propagated by removing some part of a plant and 2)lacing it where it may 

 continue to grow. That is, it is grafted, budded, increased by cuttings, run- 

 ners, layers, offsets, tubers, etc. Examples of these are all our apples, pears, 

 cherries, gooseberries, currants, strawberries, and potatoes. A variety can never 

 reproduce itself hy seeds, for as soon as it reproduces itself with a considerable 

 degree of certainty, it is no longer a variety, but a race. Eaces are obtained 

 from varieties and hybrids by constantly selecting seed from those having the 

 peculiarities desired, and planting them apart from other varieties. In this 

 way, after a time, varying with the variety, it will come true to seed, as we 

 say, and nearly or exactly reproduce itself. 



In this way we have obtained most of our races of garden vegetables, as all 

 our different kinds of cabbages, lettuce, radishes, turnips, beets, onions (those 

 raised from seeds), squashes, cucumbers, Indian corn, oats, and wlieat. Some 

 peaches will nearly always come true to seed. They are ceasing to be varie- 

 ties. Tliey are becoming races. We are getting new races every year. No 

 doubt, with time and care enough, any variety may become a race, even any of 

 our apples, pears, pelargoniums, verbenas and potatoes. 



Ainong animals we have examples of races in the different kinds of cattle, 

 as Shorthorns, Devons, llerefords, and Galloways. The Berkshires constitute 

 a race of swine, the Southdowns a race of sheep, the Light Brahmas a race of 

 fowls. 



