122 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Darwin, in bis work on "Animals and Plants under Domestication", 

 devotes several chapters to bud variation, and cites numerous instances of 

 new creations and nioditications of varieties nnd(n' different treatment, 

 and our own I'rof. Dailey, in his books, '• IMant lireeding " and " Sur- 

 vival of the Unlike", gives numerous instances of great changes which 

 have come under his own observation. The rose furnishes a familiar 

 example of this princiiile. Uy continuously piopagating from branches 

 which show a tendencj^ to double their flowers, the liorists have succeeded 

 in producing the present nuignifieent specimens, which are onl}' tlu^ result 

 of accumulated bud variation. We have another striking illustration in 

 the case of foliage plants. The (lorist finds a leaf with peculiar markings, 

 and proceeds to make cuttings from it which vary still further, and thus 

 he has kept on collecting these desirable variations until the gorgeous 

 plants of our greenhouses have been brought into existence. All this 

 has created a denmnd and made floriculture so profitable that flowering 

 jjlants and cut flowers have become a large factor in commerce, but the 

 fruitgrower has scarcely given this matter a thought. He seems to have 

 had a mania for new varieties and large acreage, but the value of indi- 

 vidual plants and their accumulated good qualities have received no 

 attention. 



In looking over the Reports of this society, the first extended reference 

 to this subject was the article read by myself at the annual meeting of 

 1891, and I am glad to see that the persistent })reaching I have given it 

 among fruitgrowers is awakening widespread interest. 



I began selecting and proj)agating from the finest plants I could find 

 some fifteen j'ears ago, and kept them under restriction in pollen bearing, 

 and I am satisfied bevond doubt that it has contributed more than anv 

 other one thing to the very satisfactory crops of berries I have grown. 

 The fruit is not only larger, but has a firmer texture, with better flavor 

 and color, and the tendency to form fruit buds instead of runners is 

 greatly increased. I have now ]irovided myself with what I conceive to 

 be an ideal soil and location, and instituted an elaliorate system of irriga- 

 tion to prevent plants from being unfavorably affected by protracted 

 drouths. I have also established extensive experimental grounds, and 

 hope in the near future to furnish more striking examples in quantity 

 and quality of fruit through these bud variations. 



Cornell university has taken up this matter, and is making a systematic 

 inquiry to determine what peculiar soil and treatment can be brought to 

 bear to produce desirable variations in all kinds of trees and plants. Prof. 

 L. H. Bailey has'started an orchard to be grafted from trees in different 

 parts of the country which are famous for producing fine fruit. We shall 

 all watch this experiment with great interest. 



Among the causes which contribute to unfavorable bud variation are 

 pollen-exhaustion and excessive seed-bearing. I have referred to this sub- 

 ject on former occasions, but I am persuaded that growers do not fully 

 comprehend the n(H'essity of guarding against these exhaustive agencies, 

 and preserviug the high potency of the vital dust. Careful observers 

 have noted the fact that excessive bloom, both of orchards and berry 

 fields, is followed by light crops of inferior fruit, while large crops of 

 fine fruit always come from moderate bloom. All trees and plants have a 

 passion foi- seed-beai'ing. and if unresti'ict(>d will exhaust themselves by 



