HYBRIDIZING AND CROSSING. 79 



flowers on the bunch show that they have been fertilized. 

 Mark the bunch, and take care that no worm or insect in- 

 jures it during its growth. 



It is best to thin out the flowers before they open ; cut 

 away at least one half the number, as it will be more con- 

 venient to operate upon those left. Besides, the berries 

 will have more room to grow, and will be larger and ma- 

 ture better than if all were left on. 



When the fruit is ripe, gather it, and proceed the same 

 as recommended for seedlings in the preceding chapter, be- 

 ing very careful not to make your seed bed where other 

 grape seeds may have been scattered. Many a new grape 

 owes its origin 'to seeds that were sown accidentally, and 

 which grew instead of the ones that were planted purposely. 



A number of instances have occurred, to my personal 

 Knowledge, where people thought they were very careful, 

 and still the results have been so widely different from 

 what might have been expected, that in some cases 

 they were truly ludicrous. One of my neighbors planted 

 some choice apple-seeds, and put a stake by them ; they 

 came up beautifully ; but he was not convinced that they 

 were wild cherry trees until they were two years old. In 

 gardens where grapes are grown and eaten, it is not 

 strange that the seeds may be found almost everywhere. 



To be positive about results requires more than ordinary 

 vigilance. 



