THE HICKORY NUT 87 



extensive series of crossing experiments have 

 been carried out. 



Hitherto, no extensive experiments in hybrid- 

 izing the various species and varieties have been 

 carried out, although it is barely possible that 

 some of the wild varieties of pecans that have 

 been brought into the orchard were natural 

 hybrids. 



It is to be hoped that experiments along this 

 line will be taken up in the near future, but, of 

 course, many years will be required before 

 notable results can be attained. 



It is desirable, also, to cross the pecan with the 

 Japanese walnut. If hybridization could be 

 effected, it may be expected that trees of rapid 

 growth, similar to my hybrid walnuts, will be 

 produced. Not unlikely some varieties that tend 

 to produce nuts at a very early age, like my 

 hybrid chestnuts, may also appear as the result 

 of such combinations. And in any event it may 

 confidently be expected that new varieties will 

 give opportunity for wide selection, and for rela- 

 tively rapid improvement in the qualities of the 

 nuts themselves. 



We have learned that the preeminent quali- 

 ties of our various cultivated fruits have largely 

 been given them by natural and artificial 

 crossing. 



