SEED FRUIT GROWING IN RED RIVER VALLEY. 267 



with inherent qualities dissimilar or alike, thereby blending the 

 characteristic elements of each in growth and quality in a new 

 form. Prof. Wm. Saunders, Ontario, Canada, says : "In a gen- 

 eral way, crosses in fruit inherit their constitution largely from the 

 pistillate or female parent ; while the quality and flavor of the fruit 

 is much influenced by the other sex." If this rule as stated by Prof. 

 Saunders holds true, the amateur plant breeder has, in some de- 

 gree, a key to greater success in the future. 



You have, by this time, discovered I am not keeping close to the 

 subject given me. Tlie old adage is, "First make your cage, then 

 catch your bird." So I, by way of preliminary, have started with 

 environment, then given a short definition of plant breeding. If you 

 will pardon me I desire to call your attention to a few of the for- 

 est or shade trees adapted to use for windbreaks, which are easily 

 propagated from seed. The soft maple and white elm ripen their 

 seed in May and grow very readily when planted soon after they 

 ripen in moist soil with two or three inches of covering. The 

 green ash and box elder ripen their seed in September and are 

 usually planted in the fall and some protection given, by mulching, 

 to keep them from mice, squirrels and washing out during fall, 

 winter and spring. 



Growing fruit trees, vines and small fruits from seed is a much 

 more complicated process, and greater care must be exercised in 

 saving and preparing this seed that it shall not be dried too much 

 before sowing. Apple and plum seed, as soon as taken from the 

 fruit, should be only partially dried, then placed in some close recep- 

 tacle, mixed with damp sand or soil to cover them from the light 

 and air, and if not sown in the fall this receptacle should be placed 

 where the seed will freeze and thaw several times and then remain 

 frozen or very cool till time of sowing in spring, to insure best 

 results. 



The same rule prevails with seed of the currant, raspberry, 

 strawberry and gooseberry, only they do not need freezing to in- 

 sure germination. 



There are some kinds of seed, as mountain ash, hawthorn, high 

 bush cranberry and nearly all the nut seeds, that require special 

 manipulation, or they will remain in the ground two years. I 

 have had apple and plum seed that did not grow till the second 

 year. 



The care and sowing of seed is only a small part of the work in 

 producing new fruits ; the work following is where most cultivators 

 fail, very simple if only continual and thorough cultivation is given. 



