SEPTEMBER. 285 



ON HYBRIDISING FRUITS. 

 We beg to refer our readers to a paper inserted elsewhere in our 

 present number, from a correspondent who signs himself " A Country 

 Rector." Our correspondent has broached an important subject, 

 which certainly has been neglected, but not exactly to the extent he 

 states. It is quite true that many of the most valuable fruits of the 

 present day, excepting Pears and Strawberries, were cultivated more 

 than a century ago, but still there have been some valuable varieties 

 raised since that time. Foremost amongst those who devoted their 

 time and practical knowledge to this subject, was the late President of 

 the Horticultural Society — ]\Ir. T. A. Knight, of Downton, who, as 

 well as Mr. WilUiams, of Pitmaston, raised many valuable productions. 

 To the former we are indebted for the Acton Scot, Spring Grove, and 

 Mountaineer Peaches, and Downton Nectarine (a valuable kind) ; for 

 many good varieties of Cherries — as the Elton, Black Eagle, and 

 others ; and for a great number of Pears and Apples — of the former. 

 Monarch, Broompark, Eyewood, and Althorp Crassane are well-known 

 and appreciated kinds, as are many of his seedling Apples. Mr. 

 Williams raised the Pitmaston Orange Nectarine, some Plums, Grapes, 

 and Gooseberries, all of which possess merit. The character of the 

 fruit raised by Mr. Knight attests the soundness of the principles he 

 followed in hybridising, viz., to obtain high-flavoured fruit, on plants 

 endued with a hardy constitution, so as to withstand the vicissitudes of 

 our uncertain climate, a point which should always be kept in view by 

 hybridisers. 



Notwithstanding the success of the above gentlemen, and of the 

 originators of new Strawberries, which within these few years have 

 been very much improved, our correspondent's remarks are very 

 pertinent to the question, for assuredly we have not made that progress 

 in originating new fruits as our neighbours on the Continent, or even 

 in America. The Horticultural Society ought to have been at the 

 head of this movement, but they have themselves done nothing worth 

 recording in this way, and have given but little encouragement to 

 those who have endeavoured to try the experiment. We confess we 

 are somewhat surprised that no private individuals have taken the 

 matter in hand as a commercial speculation, for we are assured a wide 

 field is before them ; and, we venture to say, not an unprofitable one 

 either. This is still more surprising, seeing the rapid progress made 

 by hybridisers of florists' flowers, through whose exertions those 

 beautiful varieties of Pelargoniums, Cinerarias, Heaths, &c., which 

 adorn our exhibition tables, have been produced, certainly not a loss to 

 their respective raisers ; and we advise those willing to enter into the 

 prosecution of raising new fruits, that a good market may at once be 

 obtained for anything in the Iruit way they may succeed in obtaining 

 above the merit of ordinary kinds, as we may gather from the avidity 

 with which inferior kinds, which in many instances are palmed upon 

 the public, are purchased. 



The principal objects to aim at in raising new varieties of fruit from 



