326 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



APRIL 23, 1S34. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 23, 1831. 



VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 



The following article on forming new varieties 

 of vegetables, is not only curious but useful in a liigli 

 degree. It describes the process by which we may 

 obtain new sorts of fruits, flowers, and indeed of all 

 useful plants, in a manner analogous to crossing the 

 breeds of animals to introduce new and improved 

 kinds. 



The discovery of the art of improving vege- 

 tables by mixing their races, will eventually lead 

 to improvements which the most ardent imagi- 

 nation can scarcely anticipate. Gen. Neivhail 

 will be so good as to accept our thanks fur this 

 communication, and we should be glad to often 

 have occasion to acknowledge similar favors from 

 the same donor. 



For the New-England Fanner. 



on the art op improving vegetables 

 by crossing the breeds. 



Mr. Fessenden — 



In this age of investigation into the laws 

 of nature, one of the most important discov- 

 eiies in vegetable physiology, is the sexes of 

 plants, and the consequent power we possess of 

 creating new varieties of fruits, by the cross 

 fertilization of flowers of different plants of the 

 same variety. To this knowledge we are. in- 

 debted for many of the finest fruits now in culti- 

 vation. 



Although this science is of recent date, yet it is 

 evident that Lord Bacon suspected that it was 

 possible to cross the breeds of plants, and so pro- 

 cure new kinds, for we see, says that great man, 

 in speaking of the animal world, that there are 

 compound creatures, the offspring of different va- 

 rieties, &c. and in relation to the vegetable crea- 

 tion, he says, "The compounding or mixture of 

 kinds in plants is not found out ; which never- 

 theless, if it be possible, is more at command 

 than that of living creatures ; wherefore, it were 

 one of the most notable experiments touching 

 plants to find it out, for so you may have 

 great variety of new fruits, and flowers yet un- 

 known." 



Bradley, who wrote in 17 IS, is the first author 

 who speaks on this subject as being accomplished ; 

 but the exact method was not then clearly un- 

 derstood ; as he only directs it by bringing the 

 branches of different trees together when in blos- 

 som. 



In the English Monthly Review for November 

 17j0, an account of the mixed breed of apples is 

 noticed by Mr. Benjamin Cook, and is clearly ex- 

 plained by the editor's observation. It now appears 

 to lie perfectly understood ; and as the season is 

 approaching when this operation can be perform- 

 ed, and the foundation laid for further improve- 

 ments in the interests of horticulture, I give you 

 the process by which this object may be effected, 

 in an extract from Phillips' i'nuiariuiu Britnuiiiciini, 

 hoping it may be acceptable to that portion of the 

 readers of your valuable paper, who have not the 

 means of readily consulting the best authors on 

 llie subject. 



The description and drawing is for the apple, 

 but the same principle will apply to every other 

 plant and flower. 



" The apple-blossom contains about twenty stamina, or 

 males, which are represented by Fig. No. 3, and generally 



five pointals or females, which form the centre of the cup 

 or cavity of the blossom, as in Fig. 4. The males stand 

 in a circle, just within the bases of the petals, or flower 

 leaves, and are formed of slender threads, each of which 

 terminates in a small yellow ball or anther, as in Fig. 2. 

 As soon as the blossoms are nearly full grown, as in Fig. 

 1, they must be carefully opened, and all the male stamina 

 cut or extracted, so as not to injure the pointals or females, 

 which will then appear as in Fig. 4. The blossoms are 

 then closed as in Fig. 1, and suffered to remain till they 

 open spontaneously. From the blossoms of the tree, which 

 it is proposed to make the male parent of the future varie- 

 ty, must be taken a portion of their pollen or farina, when 

 ready to fall from their mature anthers ; and this pollen 

 must be deposited upon the pointals of the blossoms of the 

 tree, which is intended to bear the variety, which conse- 

 quently will afford seed. By shaking the blossoms over a 

 sheet of while paper, you will ascertain when the pollen is 

 ready. It is necessary in this experiment, to cover the 

 branches on which the prepared blossoms arc, with a thin 

 muslin or gauze, so as not to touch the flowers, or keep 

 oft' the sun or air, but to prevent the bees or other insects 

 from inoculating them with the pollen of other blossoms, 

 Which would make the experiment uncertain ; and in order 

 lo obtain the fruit and the seeds of a large size, it is best 

 to leave but a few blossoms on the tree, and, at all events, 

 to clear the branches on which the prepared blossoms are, 

 from all other blossoms. When the fruit is quite ripe the 

 seeds should be sown at a proper season, and in suitable 

 soil, and in about six or eight years fruit may be expected." 

 I am, sir, with high regard, yours, 

 Lynnfitld, April 12, 1834. J. Newhall. 



PARMER'S ARMORY". 



Travellers who have visited the armory in the Tower 

 of London, at Malta, &c. are struck with the great variety 

 ol weapons that were used by the warriors of ancient and 

 modern times. They inflicted death in all ways ; by cul- 

 ling, stabbing, blowing up, and knocking down. Many oi 

 these instruments of destruction have been tranformed into 

 instruments of husbandry, and the curious, and others, ma) 



see them in their present various forms at 

 the Agricultural Warehouse, North Market 

 street, and where those " who go to see, 

 remain to buy." 



First, there is the original seed, to pro- 

 duce all sorts of grapes, grains, trees and 

 ornamental plants. There are axes to cut 

 down the trees, ploughs and harrows to 

 prepare the soil after the woodman, ma- 

 rliini s to drop seeds, rakes to cover them, 

 hoes lo eradicate weeds, sickles, scythes, 

 and cradles, for the harvest, mills for grind- 

 ing the grain, and engines for .cutting the 

 straw. There is every thing necessary for 

 that respectable animal, the cow. There 

 are pails for the milk, and pans also — there 

 are churns for the butter, presses for the 

 cheese, bells for the neck, and tips for the 

 horns. The gardener has as many tools 

 ns the surgeon — he has his amputating set, 

 his saws, and his knives. It is worth while 

 for any farmer, or reader of georgics and 

 pastorals, to visit the establishment. — Bos- 

 ton Courier. 



ITEMS OP INTELLIGENCE. 



Farm School. The following gentlemen were 

 elected on Monday, to the government of the 

 Boston Farm School. Charles Jackson. Presi- 

 dent. — Charles C. Paine, Secretary. — George 

 Ticknor, Treasurer. — Thomas B. Wales, John 

 Tappan, John D. Williams, Moses Grant, Th. 

 C. Carey, Charles Wells, Jonathan Phillips, 

 Joseph Tuckerman, George W. Beale, Direc- 

 tors. — Merc. Journal. 



Famine on these Shores. The Nova Scotian 

 (vives appalling accounts of famine and distress 

 existing in some parts of Cape Breton. Many 

 families have been reduced to the necessity of 

 taking only one meal a day, consisting of pota- 

 toes of miserable quality. 



The Wheels of Enterprise still roll backward. 

 The Methuen company have given orders to 

 their Agent, to stop so much of the works in 

 this place, as are devoted to the manufacture 

 of Sheetings. — Iris. 



Strawberries were in the market at Tallahas- 

 see, Florida, in' the month of March. New po- 

 tatoes had also made their appearance. 



Steam anil .Machinery. The estimated num- 

 ber of looms propelled by water and steam pow- 

 er in the United Kingdom, including those in 

 preparation lor working previous to the stagna- 

 tion, and as near as any c ilculation can be 

 made, is 58,000. The average produce, taking 

 d at 32 square yards a day, makes 1,254,000, or 

 1.741 yards a minute; weekly, 7,524,000; 

 monthly, 31 ,300,( 00 ; yearly, 370,200,000. Al- 

 lowing to each person six yards for yearly con- 

 sumption, will supply 02,700,000, and will cov- 

 er 62,700 acres of ground, and in length would 

 extend 213,750 miles, and reach across the At- 

 lantic 71 times. — Eilg. paper. 



Birds. The Rev. Dr. Miller in his work en- 

 titled " A Retrospect of the Eighteenth Centu- 

 ry," states, that there are 2,530 kinds of birds. 

 Latham described 96 genera, and 2,040 species. 



The additions made in his subsequent vol- 

 ume, have increased the number to 3,000. 



The number of birds treated of by Liunaius, 

 did not greatly exceed 900. 



