NOTES ON FRUIT BREEDING FOR THE NORTHWEST. 339 



There are three headings under which we might consider this 

 subject: importation, exploration and ameUoration. By importation 

 we mean securing from other countries anything esteemed of vakie 

 to test in this latitude. In pursuance of this policy I imported plants 

 during- the year from Russia, Germany, France and England. Some 

 of these were novelties from other countries. 



Bv exploration is meant hunting for desirable variations from 

 the normal type of fruits in our native woods and prairies. The 

 past season a trip of this kind was taken from Pierre to the Black 

 Hills in co-operation with the division of botany of the South Da- 

 kota Experiment Station. The trip necessitated driving 250 miles 

 by team and camping out fifteen nights in a tent. I also took two 

 trips along the Missouri river in Campbell and Walworth counties, 

 to the north line of the state. Some very choice plums were ob- 

 tained, including one one and three-eighths inches in diameter and 

 of excellent quality. Under propagation and cultivation this size 

 will probably be increased. Another plum nearly as large was 

 found on the alkali plains on the Cheyenne nearl\- 120 miles west 

 of Pierre in the range country. 



By amelioration is meant the improving of this material gath- 

 ered from various parts of the world. We should take all our na- 

 tive plants of any value and try by crossing them with desirable im- 

 ported plants to obtain new plants combining the desirable char- 

 acteristics of both races. 



We have a number of interesting hybrids of the native wdth the 

 Japanese plums coming on, but none of these are old enough to 

 fruit. To enumerate the numerous hybrids of tame and wild fruits 

 already secured would hardly be of interest at this time, as I prefer 

 to wait until they have borne fruit sufficiently to give decided indica- 

 tions as to their value. The plum I have mentioned as having been 

 found along the Missouri river is, I think, worthy of attention, as it 

 is nearly ec^ual to Wolf in size. 



In Bulletin 88 of the South Dakota Experimen.t Station, June, 

 1904, I discussed breeding" for hardiness as follows : "This is the 

 most difficult problem of the plant-breeder. The constitutional abil- 

 ity of a plant to endure cold cannot be changed by selection alone. 

 DeCandolle writes in 'The Origin of Cultivated Plants :' 'The 

 northern limits of wild species '•' ""' * * have not changed 

 within historic times, although the seeds are carried frequently and 

 continually to the north of each limit. Periods of more than four 

 or five thousand years, or changements of form and duration, are 

 needed apparently to produce a modification in a plant which -.vill 

 allow it to support a greater degree of cold.' 



