STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. + 69 
thave been Siberians, for al, that time there were no varieties of them in cul- 
tivation that would keep so late in the season. I mention this only as hear- 
say, not as a fact; but now I will give yousome facts. The Siberian species 
blossoms become fertilized and set their fruit several days before any pollen 
from the apple is sufficiently advanced to be available for making a cross 
with them; and before the blossom of the apple is sufficiently advanced to 
receive fertilization, the pollen of the Siberian has been scattered to the 
four winds, and, there‘ore, there can be no possibility of their progeny being 
accidental hybrids. In my diary for 1878, I find the following record of 
observations: April 17th. The blossoms are commencing to open on the 
Transcendent and other Siberian crabs. April 20th. The plum and cherry 
trees are in full bloom, and color is beginning to show on the buds of the 
red and white Astrachan and Duchess. April 23d. The crabs now look 
magnificent, being in full bloom, and the buds on the Astrachans and 
Duchess are about ready to open. April 28th. The high wind has stripped 
all the bloom from the plums and crabs and they have set very fall of fruit. 
April 29th. The Duchess and Astrachans are in full bloom, and the Baily 
Sweet, St. Lawrence and Fameuse, are beginning to open out, and Tallman 
Sweet, Walbridge and some other varieties are beginning to show color. 
May 6th Tallman Sweet, Northern Spy, Walbridge, and all late keeping 
varieties of apples are in full bloom, and the fruit on the Transcendent is 
about as large as peas. No doubt intervening cool days made a greater 
difference between the times of blowing than there is some other seasons, 
but in order to become crossed or hybridized without aid from the gardener, 
the time must be very near the same. I find that some of our Western 
nurserymen have tested the seeds of some of these new varieties and find 
them to germinate and produce as thrifty trees as the Pyrus Malus. This, 
according to some eminent botanists is evidence against their being true 
hybrids. F. A. Knight, late president of the London Horticultural Society, 
whom Professor J. Lindley in his work upon gardening declares to be the 
best horticultural physiologist the world has known, says: ‘I have never 
yet seen a hybrid plant or annual capable of affording offspring which has 
been proved by anything like satisfactory evidence to have sprung from two 
distinct species.” [Hort. papers, English edition, p. 253.] And on the 
same page he says: ‘‘I must, therefore, continue to believe that no specie 
capable of producing offspring, either of plant or animal now exists, which 
-did not become such immediately from the hand of the creator.” Professor L. 
Agassiz has expressed about the same ideas in even more forcible language. 
History and science both demonstrate that sterility is a natural consequence 
in the hybrid, and sterility is not a characteristic as far as my observation 
goes in any of the new Siberians. ‘Therefore, the natural conclusion is that 
they are not hybrids, and some of the best of them may yet perform an im- 
portant office in the production of new and valuable varieties of hardy, long- 
Aeeping apples. 
JOHN S. HARRIS. 
DISCUSSION, 
Motion was made and carried to file for publication, and the 
subject declared open for discussion. 
