54 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



deep, others pale rose, and some almost white; two 

 or three varieties of the peach have flowers wholly 

 white, as the Snow Peach, for instance. In all the other 

 fruits, as in apples, pears, plums, cherries, etc., the flowers 



vary but slightly in form 

 an< i color, and the differ- 

 ences are only taken note of 

 in very full and minute 

 scientific descriptions. A 



i" 40 Fio-%1 ^ ew cases ' nowever > are well 



Fig. 40, large flower of the peach i Fig. marked, as the Jargonelle 

 41, small flower of the peach. pear, the flowers of which 

 are nearly twice as large as those of most other pears. 



In connection with the flowers, it may be proper to ex- 

 plain the important process of 



Hybridization. This is performed by fertilizing the 

 pistil of one species or variety, with pollen from the 

 stamens of another. The seeds produced by the flower so 

 impregnated will produce a cross, or hybrid, between the 

 two parents. This process is now well understood, and is 

 carried 011 to a wonderful extent, especially in the pro- 

 duction of new flowers. Comparatively few of our popu- 

 lar fruits have been produced in this way. A few good 

 sorts have been produced by the late Mr. Knight, a distin- 

 guished English experimentalist, who effected much in his 

 time towards establishing many difficult and disputed 

 points in vegetable physiology. Nearly all the native 

 fruits of this country are .accidental hybrids, or seedlings. 

 A vast deal may be done to improve, in this way, all our 

 fruits. The size, hardiness, and productiveness of one 

 variety may be combined with the delicacy of texture and 

 flavor of another, and endless variations and improvements 

 may be effected. To obtain a true hybrid, certain precau- 

 tions are necessary. The two subjects selected must flower 

 at the same time. The stamens must be carefully removed 

 from the one intended for the mother, without injury to 



