252 AGRICULTURE. 



(2) If size is desired, time and number must 

 often be sacrificed. As Emerson says, " For 

 everything you have missed, you have gained 

 something else ; and for everything you gain, 

 you lose something." The Ponderosa tomato 

 is a good example of increased size at the ex- 

 pense of number. A single plant bears about a 

 dozen immense tomatoes. 



(3) If number is to be increased, then size 

 must necessarily be diminished. Of this the 

 little preserving tomato affords a good example. 

 A single plant sometimes yields several hundred 

 tomatoes. 



4. There should prevail one leading charac- 

 teristic. Continued selection should be made 

 with this predominating character in mind. If 

 high flavor is the one character most desired, 

 then all other characters must be made subor- 

 dinate. In case other desirable qualities are 

 found combined with high flavor in the same 

 plant, as is often the case, it would then be ad- 

 vantageous to breed from that plant. For ex- 

 ample, in breeding for high flavor in the straw- 

 berry, those plants should be chosen which 

 possess the highest flavor, other characters 

 being given secondary consideration ; but if 

 individual plants can be found which combine 

 both qualities, prolificacy and flavor, it would, of 

 course, be advisable to propagate from those 

 particular plants. 



