308 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
their flowers and leaves. To behold, mingled on the same tree, tufts 
of dingy-red, bright yellow and purple flowers, borne on branches 
having widely different leaves and manner of growth, is a surpris- 
ing sight. The same raceme sometimes bears two kinds of flowers; 
and I have seen a single flower exactly divided into halves, one side 
being bright yellow and the other purple; so that half of the stand- 
ard-petal was yellow and of larger size, and the other half purple 
and smaller. In another flower the whole corolla was bright yellow, 
butexactly half the calyx was purple. In another, oneof the dingy- 
red wing-petals had a narrow, bright yellow stripe on it; and, lastly, 
in another flower, one of the stamens, which had become slightly 
foliaceous, was half yellow and half purple; so that the tendency to 
segregation of character, or reversion, affects even single parts and 
organs.” This tree is claimed to be the result of a grafting between 
the two species to which it reverts and, hence, is called a graft- 
hybrid. Although all of our apple trees and many of our roses are 
propagated by this method, no such effect of stock on cion is ever 
observed. The stock generally acts simply as a feeding ground for 
the cion. Graftage may, however, according to Mr. Bailey, heighten 
the color of flowers. 
Forcing often destroys doubleness. Peter Henderson,in his 
* “BRloriculture,” cites the case of an English firm who, by forcing the 
dahlia, Beauty of Hastings, to get cuttings to fill their many orders, 
so reduced the vitality that the plants sent out produced only semi- 
double flowers instead of the completely double. 
In conclusion, we may summarize by saying that the chief part 
which the average gardener may take in aiding the development 
and the controlling variation of flowers, is in improving his cultiva- 
tion, and selecting his seed with care, choosing with reference to 
the quality of plant as well as of the seed, always having an ideal 
of beauty in his mind toward which he is to select and work. 
LIKES THE CHANGE.—I have wondered if all the members are as 
well pleased as I am over the change in the program which drops 
the evening session. For my part I have enjoyed this arrangement 
very much.—Mr. Ciarence Wedge. 
A CONVENIENT PRUNING DEVICE.—If one could stand upon the 
ground and reach all parts of the tree that needs pruning, much 
more of this necessary work would be done. If pruning is attend 
ed to yearly, there will be very few large limbs to cut off. An excel- 
lent device that will prove very effective for all small limbs is to fix 
a sharp, broad chisel firmly to the end ofa pole, long enough to 
reach all parts of the tree, but light enough not to prove cumber- 
some to carry and handle. A simple push with the hands will cut 
off all small branches, but as for those a little larger, a blow on the 
lower end of the pole witha light mallet, that is hung over the 
shoulder, will sever them from the trunk. Another excellent device 
is a similar pole to the end of which a narrow saw has been fitted, a 
saw no wider than the blade of the chisel. With this one can reach 
the highest limbs from the ground and saw them off. 
