LECTURE BY HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 189 



An instance of this kind is to be seen in the Camellia Floyii, an 

 American seedling, whose gigantic habit and large and thick foli- 

 age are without a parallel in the whole tribe, and what renders 

 this the more noticeable is the fact that, when this variety was 

 raised from seed by Mr. Floy, about sixty years since, there were 

 not ten varieties of the camellia in the United States, to none of 

 which have we been able to trace its genitive origin. From a cross 

 by this camellia I produced the Camellia President Clark, which 

 inherits many characteristics of the parent. 



In fruits we find the same augmentation in the size of the pro- 

 geny from parents of common size. The Beurre Clairgeau pear, 

 so large and beautiful, is, without doubt, from the seed of Beurre 

 Capiaumont ; the Northern Spy apple, so magnificent in propor- 

 tions and beauty, from the Red Nonsuch, or Old Canada Red. 

 Both of these seedlings are of unusual vigor and beauty ; and 

 from whatever impreguation they may have arisen, they furnish 

 evidence of the power of nature sometimes to produce, without 

 the aid of man, varieties of great excellence. 



A seedling fruit or flower does not generally arrive at its great- 

 est excellence for many years ; some varieties attain this much 

 earlier than others, and all are influenced by the circumstances 

 under which the}"" are placed. Thus in California, a seedling fruit 

 ' will arrive at bearing age in much less time than with us. It is 

 not best, therefore, to reject a seedling which has any apparent 

 good quality, but to try it under different locations, and for a 

 length of time. 



From what has been stated it is obvious, that to become a pro- 

 ficient in this most interesting department of science, the student 

 must be an observer of nature, and must carefully note the facts 

 which come under his observation. Some of these may appear 

 of small consequence, but they may lead to results of great im- 

 portance in the production of new varieties. He may meet with 

 many disappointments, indeed mysteries which he cannot compre- 

 -hend, but these should not abate, but actually increase his zeal for 

 knowledge in this most delightful line of study. The process of 

 Artificial impregnation may be somewhat difficult and tedious, but 

 . et, pux'sued with skill and perseverance, it will ultimately give 

 (iS fruits, flowers and vegetables suited to every section of our 

 constantly expanding territory. Let nothing discourage us in 



