. HISTORY, IMPROVEMENT, AND NOMENCLATURE. 25 



den soil, of the common black mazzard cherry, we shall 

 find that, in the leaves and habit of growth, many of the 

 seedlings do not entirely resemble the original. When they 

 come into bearing, it is probable we shall also find as great 

 a diversity in the size, color, and flavor of the fruit, though 

 only a few, perhaps only one, may be superior to the origi- 

 nal species. 



" Exactly in proportion as this reproduction is frequently 

 repeated, is the change to a great variety of forms, or new 

 sorts, increased. It is likely, indeed, that to gather the 

 seeds from the wild mazzard of the woods, the instances oi 

 departure from the form of the original species would be 

 very few ; while if gathered from a garden tree, itself some- 

 time cultivated, or several removes from a wild state, though 

 still a mazzard, the seedlings will show great variety of 

 character. 



" Once in the possession of a variety which has moved out 

 of the natural into a more domesticated form, we have in 

 our hands the best material for the improving process. The 

 fixed original habit of the species is broken in upon, and this 

 variety which we have created, has always afterwards some 

 tendency to make further departures from the original form. 

 It is true that all or most of its seedlings will still retain a 

 likeness to the parent, but a few will differ in some respects, 

 and it is by seizing upon those which show symptoms of 

 variation, that the improver of vegetable races founds his 

 hopes." 



While a few of the seedlings from such improved variety, 

 may become still further improved, a far greater number 

 will probably approach towards the original or wild state. 

 The more highly improved the fruit, the greater the diffi- 

 culty to find one of its progeny which shall excel or equal 

 the parent. In ten thousand seedlings from those high- 

 flavored apples, the Swaar and Esopus Spitzenburgh, it may 

 be quite doubtful if any shall equal in quality those fruits 

 themselves, while most may fall considerably below them. 



The improvements effected in former ages were doubtless 

 the result of accident, as the ancients were ignorant of the 

 means for their S)^stematic accomplishment. The greatest 

 progress in the art made in modern times, was effected by 

 Van Mons in Belgium, and Knight in England. 



B 



