FRUIT IMPROVEMENT 85 



And the peach is a case in point. It accepts 

 the pollen of its nearest relations (except the 

 almond) unwillingly, and as yet no useful prod- 

 uct has come of such union. 



Yet the peach is not more isolated in this re- 

 gard than its relative, the apricot, seemed to be 

 until I was able, after many efforts, to hybridize 

 that fruit with the plum. The hybrid that re- 

 sulted, named the plumcot, is virtually a new 

 species. It combines most of the good qualities 

 of both parents and is a very valuable addition to 

 the list of orchard fruits. It seems not unlikely 

 that some future experimenter will be able to 

 effect a correspondingly useful hybridization of 

 the peach; then the way will be open for the de- 

 velopment of a race of peaches that will combine 

 with the existing qualities of fruit production the 

 qualities of hardiness and resistance to disease 

 that the present peach tree so notably lacks. 



BIG FRUIT AND FREE BEARING 



Size of fruit and prolific bearing are charac- 

 teristics of such obvious desirability that they 

 cannot be overlooked even by anyone. 



Yet the average amateur, who has a group of 

 fruit trees in his garden or even a fair-sized 

 orchard on his country place, is content to buy 

 large, handsome fruits in the market, taking it 



