554 Reading-Course for Farmers. 



self-fertilized do not show this decrease in vigor as a result of inbreeding. 

 Indeed, in such plants, cross-fertilization ordinarily results in decreased 

 vigor and should be avoided. 



IMPROVEMENT OF PLANTS PROPAGATED BY BUDS, 



CUTTINGS, Etc. 



One kind of plant improvement which has been very greatly neglected, 

 even by the most scientific plant breeders, is the improvement which 

 may be accomplished through bud selection. The fact that there are 

 bud variations which correspond in considerable measure with seedling 

 variations has been mentioned in connection with the discussion of 

 variation. Careful studies of such bud variations show that they may 

 be classified very nearly the same as the variations which occur in 

 seedlings. An examination of almost any plant, as, for instance, the 

 maple, will show that different branches vary slightly from each other. 

 Branches which are located differently on the limb, and are therefore 

 exposed to different intensities of light, commonly develop quite differ- 

 ently, showing variations in length of branch, length of internodes, 

 etc., similar to the variations between seedlings grown on rich and 

 sterile soil. 



Aside from these variations it is frequently found that there are 

 more marked types, sometimes going so far as to result in an entire 

 change of character. It would seem that each bud has more or less of 

 an individuality of its own, just as each seed or each plant has its indi- 

 viduality, although in general the difference between the branches 

 growing from certain buds are not so great as between different indi- 

 viduals. This difference between buds is quite commonly recognized 

 by horticulturists, but the differences are not so commonly used in 

 general breeding. Still, we have many varieties which have been pro- 

 duced by the selection of these so-called bud sports, or bud variations. 

 It is not uncommon in chrysanthemums and azaleas to find different 

 colored flowers and different forms of flowers produced on the same plant, 

 and by taking cuttings for propagation from these different kinds of 

 branches, different types may be reproduced and retained. Such varia- 

 tions as these are in large measure variations that occur following hybridi- 

 zation. Such types of bud variations are not uncommonly used in 

 carnations and roses in the production of new varieties. Many of our 

 readers will probably be familiar with the fact that the Pink Enchantress 

 and White Enchantress Carnations are simply bud variations from the 

 ordinary Enchantress, and that the Red Lawson and White LawsonCama- 



