THE PLUM 329 



Nor need we here raise the issue as to pre- 

 cisely what share the new conditions of climate 

 and soil may have had in stimulating the stran- 

 gers. Let what has already been said suffice for 

 the moment as to this, and let us examine the 

 notable members of the company more in detail 

 as to exceptional qualities that they presently 

 manifested. 



After all, it is more important to know just 

 what the little seedlings achieved than to attempt 

 to say just what share different causes had in the 

 achievement. 



In view of the very remarkable results, it should 

 perhaps be explained that the Japanese plums are 

 in general subject to great variation; the reason 

 being that it has been the custom, which still pre- 

 vails pretty largely, to raise the fruit from seed 

 instead of propagating it by grafting, as is done 

 in this country and in Europe. 



So the little seedlings that came to me were 

 doubtless of mixed heritage. In a word they had 

 been produced by cross-fertilization between 

 races not thoroughly fixed. 



In dealing with them I profited by experi- 

 ments that had been made, doubtless quite 

 unwittingly, and with the aid only of insect 

 pollenizers, in Japan in the preceding plant 

 genertions. 



