4 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



the stock of a particular kind true, one variety only should be grown at one place. When 

 more than one kind is grown and it is desired to keep a particular variety pure, the 

 flowers should be enclosed in gauze bags before they expand, impregnating them when 

 full-blown with the desired pollen, keeping them covered until the fruit commences 

 swelling. Pollen of a different variety is more energetic than pollen of the same kind. 

 This accounts for the great variations in the seedlings from a fruit, even after careful 

 impregnation with pollen from the same plant own pollen when other varieties 

 were flowering simultaneously. Cross-breds are also liable to sport ; therefore every 

 possible care should be taken in selection. 



The age of the seed exerts some influence on growth, fruitfulness, and time of 

 ripening. New seeds produce the strongest growth, those two or three years old 

 furnish healthy and free fruiting plants, and older seeds give plants that supply fruit 

 in the least time from sowing. Seeds more than three years old are not desirable, for 

 it is necessary that the young plants be strong and make good growth before they 

 show fruit, so as to insure this being fine. 



The seeds are best placed singly in 3-inch pots, half filled with a compost of two- 

 thirds loam and one- third leaf soil, fine and pressed moderately firm, one crock and a 

 little of the rough of the compost sufficing for drainage. Make an indent in the 

 centre about ! inch deep, place in the seed two if considered advisable, with a view 

 of making sure of one plant, removing the weakest in due course and cover with 

 fine soil, not more than | inch nor less than | inch deep. The soil ought to be moist so 

 that water will not be necessary immediately after sowing. Stand the pots on a shelf, 

 not more than 1 foot from the glass, in a house with a temperature of 65 at night, 

 70 to 75 by day, with 10 to 15 rise from sun heat. Cover each pot with a pane 

 of glass, which withdraw by degrees directly the seedlings appear, dispensing with it 

 altogether when the seed-leaves are developed. Give water very carefully, especially in 

 the early part of the year, and earth up the plants as they advance in growth to within 

 | inch of the rim of the pots. From the 3-inch pots the plants may be transferred to 

 their fruiting quarters, or be shifted into 5-inch pots for growing stronger before 

 planting. 



When several seeds are sown in a pot, say an inch apart, the seedlings should be 

 lifted carefully when the first leaf appears beyond the seed leaves, and placed singly in 

 3-inch pots, the stems being buried deeper than they were before, yet the seed leaves 



