JUXE MEETING, 1S77. 105 



In s^ienking of the longevity of varieties we must make a distinction between 

 these and wliat are termed races. Tliore may be some reasons why a variety 

 may degenerate while a race may not degenerate. 



In the case of most animals, new individuals are produced by fertilized eggs. 

 Some of the lower forms are also reproduced or multiplied by buds or off-shoots 

 which become independent individuals. Tliose lower animals, which often bud 

 and branch like plants, are also occasionally, at least, reproduced by fertilized 

 eggs. 



Our plants are multiplied in two ways: by budding, branching, etc., and by 

 seeds or spores. Some of our lowest water plants consist of a single microscopic 

 cell. This cell has a way of rapidly increasing in numbers by repeated divis- 

 ion. We may see no reason why this proces might not go on forever without 

 degeneracy, but all plants some time or other under their normal condition pro- 

 duce seeds or spores — fruit in some form or other. Even in case of these 

 minute one-celled plants of which I spoke, once a year perhaps, two of them 

 approach each other and meet. The cell walls break away or disappear in cer- 

 tain places ; the contents of one cell is all poured into and mingles with the 

 contents of the other. This mingled material formed two new walls about 

 itself and escapes from the old shell and floats away to begin a new growth the 

 same as before. In some cases two rows of cells meet in this way. The con- 

 tents of two cells are used to make a single new one. In other cases, three cells 

 are united to form one new one. 



This blending of cells is a process answering to fertilization. It cannot, of 

 course, go on continually without other ways of propagation, as there is a loss 

 of 50 to 66f per cent for every such spore which is produced. Why should the 

 higher plants resort to the mode of reproduction by seeds if this mode is not 

 necessary in some way to the well being of the plant? Why should these lower 

 plants blend two or three into one to fertilize and begin anew if the process is 

 not of some advantage to the species? 



Do varieties wear out? 



Thomas Andrew Knight, the famous English horticulturist, believed they did 

 wear out, and gave what he supposed were good examples, among which 

 was the Golden Pippin apple. He also believed that any variety of apples or 

 pears would last no longer than the parent tree. 



Mr. AVilliam Masters also believed that varieties wore out. We know now 

 that varieties may last longer than the parent plant. 



The Golden Pippin apple is still grown in perfection, a long time after the 

 ■death of Mr. Knight. 



A plant may be injured by bad cultivation. It may become diseased and die. 

 Cuttings, buds, or even seeds from such diseased or enfeebled plants may make 

 diseased or feeble plants. 



By some means, certain varieties of potatoes which have been kept for six or 

 eight years on the College garden have failed to set any tubers, many other sorts 

 have produced only a few small tubers. A set of such potatoes was sent to 

 Kansas Agricultural College and given good treatment for one year. Of those 

 varieties which had dwindled down to very small specimens at Lansing, none 

 revived or did better in Kansas. They all continued to degenerate. The cause 

 of this degenerating I am unable to give, the fact cannot be doubted. Some 

 -will attribute it to bad management, others to a weakening of the variety. 

 Some varieties of potatoes at our farm have yet shown little or no signs of 

 degeneracy. 



14 



