HORTICULTURAI, SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 



In fruit trees and plants there is an unlimited field for this most inter- 

 esting and highly valuable work along the line of breeding and selection. 



The strawberry, among small fruits, is perhaps the one most universally 

 in demand and highly prized for its delicious flavor and excellent qualities. 

 While the average yield of this most luscious fruit does not exceed 2,000 

 quarts to the acre, — which is nowhere near the quantity wanted by the con- 

 sumers — it is possible to obtain yields of from 10,000 to 15,000 quarts. By 

 studying the habit of the plants and selecting from a large number those 

 individuals that show marked superiority in vigor, size of foliage, number of 

 fruit bearing stalks produced, and the abundance of fruit on them, and 

 propagating from such, very largely increased yields may be obtained. 



By this method of selection accompanied by culture and an abundance 

 of plant food, we have grown many plants on a commercial scale that have 

 measured two feet across their diameters. This large development of in- 

 dividual plants has been obtained by keeping the runners cut closely and the 

 plants grown in single hills. Runners represent one form of reproduction 

 of the plant which is more or less exhaustive to the plant, and for every 

 runner that is cut a bearing fruit stalk will be developed in the crown, and 

 where there is an abundance of plant food always present in the soil the 

 limitation of production is yet to be reached. 



In the cultivation of the currant also on a large scale, we have practiced 

 selection of plants for propagation until a very large increased yield has 

 been obtained. 



The principle of selection in the propagation of trees has a most import- 

 ant bearing on the results in the culture of fruit, as also on the growing of 

 ornamental trees and plants. Many of our choicest varieties are not grown 

 to a large extent for the reason that they have constitutional defects, lack of 

 vigor or hardiness, defective foliage or susceptibility to disease, all of which 

 make their culture uncertain and unprofitable. By a careful study of the 

 individuality of different varieties and by the selection of buds or propagat- 

 ing material from the best, worked upon other and stronger stocks, they 

 may be so improved as to make their culture more general. 



By breeding and selection great improvement has been made in carna- 

 tions, violets and roses and in many other plants, which in the productive- 

 ness of flowers have been increased in many instances more than one hun- 

 dred per cent. 



There is no flower that is so universally loved and desired as the rose. 

 There is none that is more uncertain and disappointing in its culture. 

 Through interminable crosses, to an extent that is bewildering, the weak- 

 nesses of many of those most beautiful and highly prized have been dis- 

 seminated to an extent which gives rise to very much of the disappointing 

 results in attempts to grow satisfactory roses. By careful selection of the 

 strongest types, freest from the introduction of weaker varieties, it is yet 



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