272 On the Improvement of Fruits. 



proceed to the fullest extent. When, for instance, the seeds of 

 grapes are to be sown, the berries should remain on the vine 

 till almost in a state of decay ; they should then be separated 

 from the pulp, and kept to be sown in spring. But of all 

 methods of varying the produce of plants, the roost important 

 and the surest, consist of operations upon the blossom. By 

 such means are produced hybrid varieties, in which the quali- 

 ties are compounded of, or intermediate between, those of the 

 sorts from which they are deri\ed. The operation requires a 

 little attention and delicacy but possesses considerable certainty; 

 and it is remarked by the European Horticulturist, that " the 

 raising of new vines is by no means a tedious process ; the fruit 

 of the seedling may in general be tasted in tlie fourth year." 

 The process consists simply in cutting off the stamens of a 

 blossom intended to produce seeds, and applying upon it the 

 pollen or staminal dust of another blossom. Thus perhaps the 

 peculiar properties of the Hannavoet (Royal Muscadine ?) 

 which render it proper for making raisins, might be implanted 

 in other varieties ; — and perhaps the properties of the currant 

 might he transferred to others of higher flavour. The process 

 is interesting, and is likely to be not unprofitable. In regard to 

 the means by which fecundation is produced, the following 

 general results are found in a paper read before the French 

 Academy of Sciences, in September last: 



1. ]\Iixing the pollen with water and applying the fluid to 

 the pistils of the blossom seldom succeeds : thus, abundant rains 

 render blossoms unfruitful. 



2. Fecundation is not certain if the blossom affording pollen 

 be only made to open naturally or remain naturally expanded 

 beside the other. There must he one cause operating to detach 

 the pollen and another to convey it. 



3. Fecundation is uncertain when the flower affording pollen 

 is fading. 



4. The produce of fecundation has a direct ratio to the 

 abundance of the pollen. 



5. Hybridation is more difficult in proportion to the differ- 

 ence between the varieties which it is desired to combine. 



