70 ANNUAL REPORT. 
Mr. Jordon. Like produces like; hence little cherry crab can’t. 
produce the large apple without crossing. In our native crab 
there is only one character of fruit. It is always sour, and its 
season winter. This is explained by the fact that it blossoms. 
two or three weeks later than the apple and Siberian crab, and 
hence does not cross with them. The Wealthy shows its crab. 
parentage by its seeds going back and producing Siberians. Mr. 
Gideon says it grew from crab seeds brought from Bangor. The 
majority of seedlings of the Wealthy are Siberians. There can 
be no mistake about this, as Mr. Gideon is very careful about. 
saving and labelling the seeds. The Wealthy top works on all 
kinds of Siberians readily. It seems to assimilate well with them, 
but it is not successfully top-worked on the apple. It is a failure 
even on the Duchess. These facts further indicate its origin. 
How are the Transcendent and others of its class produced if there 
is no crossing of apple and crab? If the Siberian crab had been 
kept by itself it would have retained its character, but planted in 
an orchard of apples where its flowers are fertilized by them,,. 
occasionally something different comes from its seeds. We have 
several varieties that certainly come from one variety of Siberian. 
crab. The Orange. Minnesota and others come from seeds grown. 
on a Siberian crab tree standing in an apple orchard in South 
Bend, Ind. 
Mr. Harris. ‘‘ Like produces like’’ does not prove the hybrid 
origin of the improved seedling Siberians. They are the direct, 
result of repeated sowing of seeds, improved cultivation and soil, 
and of nothing else, and I can see no reason why they shall not. 
continue to vary until time of blossoming becomes the same as. 
that of the apple, and then crosses between them will be possible. 
We are not justified in calling these improved Siberians ‘‘ hy- 
brids ’’ and sending them out as such. 
Dr. Twitchell. How is this great change from Siberian crab to 
Transcendent, &c., produced in one generation ? 
PROF. BUDD’S LETTER. 
The letter of Prof. J. L. Budd on the Production of Seedling 
Apples and the introduction of Russian Varieties was read by the: 
secretary, as follows: 
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, 
Amgs, Iowa, Dec. 27, 1879. 
Prof. C. Y. Lacy— 
My Dear Sir: Your favor is at hand. I have long wished to visit your 
State and to compare notes with your fruit growers, but it seems unfor- 
