lit FRHANSEN, 



EDlBliE 



ALMOST without exception, the useful varieties of fruits now- 

 cultivated in our orchards and gardens hive originated from types that 

 are vastly inferior, and in some cases comparatively worthless. The 

 process of amelioration has been gradually brought about by care, 

 forethought, and skill in cultivation for the most part, though perhaps 

 sometimes chance has assisted the work of improvement. We have no 

 reliable records as to when improvements in many of our most popular 

 fruits first began, but it is known for a certainty that at a very early 

 period kinds were grown by ancient nations that were far superior to 

 the original types. Pliny mentions that in his time the Romans had 

 "Twenty-two sorts of Apples, three of Apricots, a variety of Plums, 

 Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, and Almonds; as also various sorts of 

 Olives." These improvements were, no doubt, brought about by careful 

 selection from seedlings possessing desirable properties, liberal culti- 

 vation that would pre-dispose to free development, and judicious 

 pruning to concentrate the energy of the plants. As a rule, any 

 substantial changes were brought about gradually, and the process of 

 amelioration was extended through several generations. In modern 

 practice improvement has to be effected on similar lines, but as culti- 

 vators have varieties to start with greatly in advance of the original 

 types from which they sprang, amelioration is more quickly and easily 

 effected. As regards nearly all our ordinary fruits, the varieties in 

 cultivation are numerous, and in fact far more so than is necessary for 

 practical purposes. New ones are being rapidly added to the already 

 heavily- weighted lists, and in many cases it is hard to say what claim 

 these seedlings have to be accepted. in too many cases they have 

 nothing but novelty to recommend them, as in other respects they are 

 no better than, if not inferior to, varieties in cultivation. This, in my 

 opinion, is a very undesirable state of affairs, and it would be well if 

 we could prevent any addition to our present heavy lists, except in the 

 case of a variety possessing special merit. If by careful hybridization 

 a fruit can be raised which combines the good qualities of two high- 

 class varieties, such an addition will be an acquisition. For instance, 

 if an Apple can be raised that possesses the high flavour and colour of 

 the Ribston Pippin, as when grown in a cool climate, with the keeping 

 properties of the Stone Pippin or French Crab, such a variety will be 

 invaluable. If cultivators will work in this direction, their efforts 

 may be useful, but to bring forward chance seedlings having no special 

 merits lays them open to grave censure. It is very easy to raise 

 varieties by simply sowing stones and pips of various fruits, but useful 



