STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. , 65 
Two Methods. 
There are two methods by which modern gardeners may accomplish this: 
the first, by taking a type of a variety or specie and improving and propa- 
gating by cultivation and direct or selected seedlings; the other, by cross- 
breeding between two varieties of a specie the offspring of which is a cross 
breed, or between two near allied species of a ‘‘ genus” the offspring of 
which is called a “hybrid.” I believe these methods were unknown until 
modern times, and hence the gardens of the ‘‘ ancients” contained but few 
varieties of fruits compared with ours. The day when it was discovered 
that plants have sexes was one which conferred a most importaat controlling 
power upon the skillful horticulturist,—the power to create varieties almost. 
at pleasure by the intermixture of the pollen and stigma from two different 
plants, and leaves no longer anecessity of awaiting for nature or accident to 
accomplish the work. And the past quarter of a century has witnessed 
improvements in fruits and flowers that surpass those of any previous age 
of the world. This knowledge and power is free to all, and every man who 
has control of a rod of ground, may, by an intelligent and systematic use of 
this power and the means at hand, become a benefactor to mankind by 
ameliorating some fruit or originating a variety that shall be adapted to this 
ciimate. 
Cultivation aud Selection. 
In practicing the first method there are some things which should be kept 
in mind by those who would succeed. To start with, we require a hardy, 
vigorous, productive tree or plant from which we are to procure our first 
seeds. This should be given every advantage of soil, cultivation and aspect 
to secure the most perfect development of wood and fruit. The fairest and 
most perfectly ripened should be selected for seeds, and from these all infe- 
rior and unripe seeds should be rejected, and only the largest, plumpest, and 
most thoroughly ripe be retained for planting. These should be planted in 
good soil, and the plants from them never allowed to become stunted or 
dwarfed for the want of care; and when they fruit the same care should be 
taken in the saving of seed as before, giving every favorable variation from 
the original the preference, and this process is to be continued until the 
desired end is secured, when it may be multiplied and perpetuated by graft- 
ing, budding, or offsets, as the case may be. This method is similar to that 
which has long been in practice by our best farmers for the improvement of 
their stock, grains, and grasses. They select the best males and females of 
their flocks, and rear them in the highest state of perfection by liberal feed_ 
ing and judicious care, in order to perpetuate and improve the breeds, and 
save their best corn and wheat for seed; and any farmer would be consid- 
ered demented or insane who should save the runts of his flock (and rear 
them at the straw stack) for breeding purposes, and use the nubbins of his 
corn and screenings of his wheat for the planting and sowing of his fields, 
and yet this is about upon the principle of expecting to improve our fruits. 
without system and painstaking. 
