155 



Besides, if we draw a correct conclusion from what we gather from your letter, not 

 only has this step been already made, but you expect even to have now ready on 

 hand the necessary materials for going a step further, viz, proceed to the selection 

 of those plants as possess to the desirable degree the very qualities looked for. 



Here we must remark, as regards the said selection, that, as far as our experience 

 goes, it does not seem to be always the safest way to systematically discard all the 

 merely satisfactory plants and to give the preference only to those showing some 

 qualities to the highest degree. On the contrary, it has often been the case that 

 specimens of only average value, but otherwise well fitted plants, have proved to af- 

 ford the surest means of rapidly obtaining a final result. 



This applies especially to the most important quality to be secured in the selected 

 plants, which is the capability of fully transmitting their good qualities to their de- 

 scendants, and as this quality can not well be ascertained at the outset, it is neces- 

 sary not to be over severe in the first selection, and subsequently to retain only those 

 plants as show this quality to a satisfactory degree and then to make a careful selec- 

 tion amongst these. 



During the whole time of these experiments it will be necessary to take the re- 

 quired measures to prevent intercrossing, so that the successive progeny of each 

 individual plant be kept severely by itself, and every hybridization be made impossible, 

 as otherwise, even one accident might be conducive to impart to the plants a tendency 

 to variation, which may make it the more difficult to obtain that lasting constancy 

 or fixity so necessary in the plants that are intended to create a new and large genera- 

 tion liable to improve rather than degenerate. As a consequence, it will also be 

 necesary to provide, from the outset, for a most careful and correct record of the 

 signs, the degree, and progress of each of the qualities recognized in each individual 

 plant selected for future propagation. For it is very important that when selecting 

 stock plants amongst the new generation an accurate and easy comparison of each 

 of these plants may be made with every one of his ancestors, so that the increase 

 gained in constancy or permanency of each character wanted may be surely ascer- 

 tained, and a headway movement secured with certainty. 



Of course the number of series to be studied separately may vary according to cir- 

 cumstances, each being conducted on a somewhat different basis as regards the most 

 prominent qualities noticed in the plants used. 



By such means and by never altering, without good reasons, the program once laid 

 down at the beginning, you may expect to bring the desired result more or less rapidly 

 into the domain of established facts. Of course, much depends on the skill shown in 

 the successive selections to be made, on the nature of the plants treated, as also on 

 circumstances. 



In reply to your query about publishing this letter, we have only to say that if 

 you are of opinion that others may derive some benefit from reading it, we shall not 

 have the least objection to your publishing it. 

 We remain, dear sir, yours faithfully, 



VILMORIN, ANDKIEUX & Co. 



Mr. W. P. CLEMENT, 



Sterling Siruit /forte, Sterling, Kans. 



