NEW VARIETIES— HYBRIDIZATION. 1 89 



and, as Mr. A. S. Fuller sagaciously remarks, " Hybridizing, 

 or crossing hybrids, is only mixing together two compounds, 

 the exact proportions of neither being known." Therefore, 

 the inevitable element of chance. Disagreeable traits and 

 shiftless ways of strawberry grandparents and great-grand- 

 parents may develop themselves in a seedling produced by 

 the union of two first-class varieties. At the same time it 

 is possible that fine ancestral qualities may also assert them- 

 selves. The chance seedling, which comes up in a garden 

 where good varieties have been raised, may prove a prize. 

 The Forest Rose was found grovv'ing in a vineyard. If we 

 propose to raise seedlings, however, we will, of course, select 

 seeds from the best fruit of fine varieties, even in our first 

 and most rudimental efforts. Before making any serious or 

 prolonged attempt to originate new varieties, it would be 

 well to familiarize ourselves with certain principles, and 

 gather experience from the successes and failures of others. 

 We have seen that the F. Virginiana is the native species 

 of the eastern section of our continent, and that its vigor 

 and hardiness best adapt it to our extremes of cUmate. It 

 were best to start, therefore, with the most vigorous strains 

 and varieties of this hardy species. It is true that fine re- 

 sults can be obtained from crossing varieties of the F. Chil- 

 ensis with our native species, — the President Wilder proves 

 this, — but few of such products are adapted to the country 

 at large, and they will be almost sure to falter on light soils. 

 We will achieve our best success in developing our native 

 species. By observation, careful reading of the horticultural 

 journals, and by correspondence, the propagator can learn 

 what varieties show vigor and productiveness throughout a 

 wide range of country, and in great diversities of soil and 

 climate. These sturdy kinds, that seem bent on doing well 

 everywhere, should be the robust forefathers of the straw- 



