90 The Ohio Pomological Society. [February, 



quality of tlie fruit, but, also, over the hardiness of the tree. We select 

 and bring in contact the parents whose qualities we wish to combine. 

 For instance, we want to effect a cross of the Scdcd, and throw the fine 

 and excellent qualities of its fruit with the hardiness of the tree into the 

 Bartlett, or the Duchrss UAngoulcme ; to effect this, it is necessary to 

 remove from the bloom of the variety we wish to change, immediately 

 on its expanding, the stamens which contain the impregnating element, 

 and which are easily distingaished from the pistils by the length they 

 rise above them. This operation is best performed with a pair of 

 pointed scissors ; and in the operation, the bloom should be held down- 

 ward, in Older to prevent the escape of the pollen and its falling on the 

 pistils. Tliis effected, without delay, the pistils of the variety to be 

 impregnated should at once be fertilized with the matured pollen of the 

 fully expanded Scchd bloom, which, in this case, becomes the father of 

 the offspring ; and we have good reason to believe that its character will 

 mix with, and, perhaps, predominate over that of the mother. Great 

 care is necessary in this process of fertilization, that the elements of 

 fecundation be not mixed, by the a-^ency of insects, and that the pollen 

 of the stamen be brought fully in contact with the pistils. In the 

 morning, before the insects have commenced their work of carrying the 

 pollen from bloom to bloom, is the best time to perform the operation. 

 After it has thus been artificially impregnated, thin gauze should be 

 placed over the bloom, to prevent insects from making a mixture ; the 

 gauze should be removed as soon as the fruit is set. Fruits closely 

 resembling each other in flavor and character should not be used, but 

 rather those differing in some strong points. The seed of the fruit 

 which is produced from this crossing, is our reliance for the new and 

 improved variety, or varieties. 



We need but turn to the Florist, and see the wonderful effect produced 

 by this system on the rose, to stimulate and encourage us. Ours, it is 

 true, will require more time to obtain the same results, but the results 

 are just as sure. A few years since, the only ever-blooming rose was a 

 house plant, and this of a very inferior character ; now every garden 

 abounds with the most magnificent, and perfectly hardy, ever-blooming 

 roses. So it may be with the pear, if the same perseverance and skill 

 are employed, until our gardens and orchards shall abound with a highly 

 improved class, in the quality of fruit and the hardiness of tree, which 

 will banish the fire-blight from the land. Let me, then, urge on all the 

 young and old men of our association, and others, not to permit the next 

 0)ring to pass without beginning this work, and persevering in it so 



