INTRODUCTION. FRUITS. 21 



and thus what is known as self-fertilisation is prevented. This intercrossing cannot be 

 effected between different kinds of flowers or of fruits, but only between different 

 varieties of the same kinds, or in other words, a light fuchsia may be crossed 

 with a dark one, and so in the case of liliums of different shape and colour ; but it 

 would be futile to apply the pollen of a fuchsia to a lilium, or v ice versa, or that from 

 an apple to a plum in the hope of obtaining something between the two. The 

 whole process and results are wonderful enough, without attempting any violation 

 of nature's laws. When bees enter flowers (c) for abstracting honey, some of the pollen 

 is brushed off the anthers by and on to their bodies, and when they enter the 

 next flower it is brushed off their bodies on to the stigma and thus the transference 

 is effected. This is known as natural fertilisation, but when man chooses the varieties 

 for crossing and takes due precaution in carrying out his object, the fertilisation is 

 known as artificial. Eaising new fruits in the manner described cannot be profitably 

 done by cultivators generally, but, understanding the method, they will the better 

 comprehend the advice that will be given on the setting of fruit under glass, and also 

 recognise the value of bees in gardens and orchards, for the more complete the fertilisa- 

 tion of the flowers the better are the crops of fruit. 



FRUIT. 



We now arrive at what is alike the object of trees and their cultivators the 

 production of fruit. This is the most exhaustive process in vegetation, and if not guided 

 and assisted, trees, bushes, and vines may be ruined by the weight or character of their 

 crops. In this respect art improves nature, and that is the paramount duty of 

 gardeners and others who engage in the work of growing that which is most pleasing 

 to the eye and good for food. The life object of a tree is to produce seed for the 

 perpetuation of its kind, and not the pulpy or fleshy matter in which seeds are embedded 

 or enclosed. This is essential for the demands of seed, though in nature secondary ; 

 but in fruit cultivation the object is reversed, the growth of seeds being secondary, the 

 enlargement and improvement of the surrounding medium for agreeable consumptive 

 purposes primary. Wild apples, plums, gooseberries, and strawberries, so long as the 

 trees or plants retain sufficient strength to do so, produce and mature seeds as freely 

 as, or more freely than, those which are highly cultivated. 



We may be said to tame, train, and change the habits of trees and develop qualities 



