FRUIT IMPROVEMENT 83 



tions there might be developed a stock of trees 

 that would retain all the good qualities of the 

 peach and yet would be long-lived, vigorous, and 

 productive. 



No very striking commercial results have yet 

 been produced by crossing almond and peach, 

 though many unusually vigorous and rapid- 

 growing trees have been produced which will far 

 outgrow the most vigorous individuals of either 

 species. 



But hybridizing, followed by rigid and per- 

 sistent selection, is a practical method that is still 

 in its infancy. It is not so very long since or- 

 chardists in general, supported by most techni- 

 cal botanists, denied the possibility of hybridiz- 

 ing different species. 



My long series of varied experiments were 

 perhaps more directly instrumental than any 

 other influence in showing the fallacy of this be- 

 lief. The reader will recall that I have in many 

 instances interbred species belonging to different 

 genera; and that the interbreeding of different 

 species in my orchards and gardens is a common- 

 place. Yet it is still true that there are many 

 cases in which there seem to be barriers erected 

 between plants that obviously are closely related, 

 which prevent the advantageous hybridizing or 

 grafting of one species with another. 



