No. 10. 



Cross-Breeding. 



335 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Cross-Breeeding, 



And Breeding in-and-in in the Vegetable 

 Kingdom. 



Mr. Editor, — The terms cro?s-breeding, 

 and breeding in-and-in, are familiar to most 

 of your atjricultural readers, but may not be 

 so well understood when applied to vegeta- 

 bles; therefore, a communication on the sub- 

 ject might be acceptable. 



By the term cross-breeding, I would be 

 understood as meaning that process by which 

 the pistil, or female part of a flower, becomes 

 impregnated by the pollen from a flower of a 

 different variety of the same species. By the 

 term breeding in-and-in, as meaning that 

 process by which tiie pistil of a perfect flower 

 is impregnated with the pollen from its own 

 stamens, or those of a flower of the same va- 

 riety ; or, in case the plant belongs to the 

 class Monoecia, from flowers of the same 

 plant. By ihe first process, the object is, to 

 obtain new varieties, partaking of the nature 

 of both the parents from which the variety is 

 produced, or a medium between the two: by 

 the second, to continue any well-known and 

 valuable variety, by producing new plants 

 from the seeds, which shall retain all the 

 valuable properties of the parent, as in annu- 

 als, and so continue them for any length of 

 time without intermixture with inferior varie- 

 ties, and in perennials to escape any disease 

 or debility produced by long duration. Fully 

 aware of the benefits which have resulted to 

 the agricultural world from the attention 

 which lias been paid by certain individuals to 

 the improvement of animals both by cross- 

 breeding, and breeding in-and-in, I would in- 

 quire, w'hether similar benefits might not ac- 

 company a like attention to the fructification 

 of plants ? 



My object in calling the attention of horti- 

 culturists to this subject, is to inquire, whe- 

 ther some process may not be discovered, by 

 which the flowers of our fruit-bearing trees 

 may be so impregnated, as to enable us to 

 continue any valuable variety, by raising 

 young trees from seeds so impregnated, at a 

 cheaper rate than they are now propagated 

 by budding, graftin?, or any process now re- 

 .sorled to. Sir A. Knight has thrown much 

 light on this subject by his numerous experi- 

 ments in crossbreeding, by which he has not 

 only produced many valuable varieties both 

 in annuals and perennials, but has been able 

 to predict, before they produced their fruit, 

 what that fruit would be. He also supported 

 the theory, that each new plant from seed 

 ■was a new generation, and had its limited 

 duration according to ihe nature of the plant. 



According to this theory, the time will come 

 when all our present valuable varieties of fruit 

 will have become extinct. If this is correct, 

 is it not desirable that we should endeavour 

 to discover some way in which they may be 

 perpetuated ] And cannot this be done by 

 breeding in-and-in! By his theory of cross- 

 breeding, he lays it down, that the new va- 

 riety produced, is a medium between the two 

 varieties made use of in the fructification, in 

 size, flavour, colour; but that the new plant 

 produced bears in growth a strong resem- 

 blance to the mother, or plant which pro- 

 duced the fruit or seed from which the plant 

 was raised. 



We know of many plants which produce 

 flowers, that, from their peculiar shape, the 

 pistil or female part of the flower is so en- 

 veloped, that it is difficult for the pollen from 

 any other plant to come in contact with it; 

 and where flowers are so formed, we see the 

 varieties continue for ages without any al- 

 teration. Such is the case with the bean, 

 pea, and several other plants; and yet Knight 

 found the pea-flower very convenient to ex- 

 periment upon, as they required no artificial 

 covering after they were impregnated. 



Have we not reason to believe that the pollen from 

 dillerent flowers acts upon the same pistil, and in dif- 

 ferent degrees, proportioned to the quantity, producing 

 their proportionate effect upon the character of the 

 succeeding plant? And are not the pistils of perfect 

 flowers, or those producing stamens and pistils in the 

 same plant, often so nearly imjiregnated with their 

 own pollen, as to produce plants from their seed with 

 but little variation from their motlier plant, and an 

 almost perfect similarity of fruit? Upon what other 

 principle are we to account for the great similarity 

 that is found to exist in certain families (if I may be 

 allowed the expression) of Apples?— viz. the Junitting, 

 Seeknofarthers, Pippins, Russets, and several other 

 varieties or families? Of the Junitting, we have in 

 this section of country four distinct varieties, '■ alike, 

 yet various;" of the Sceknofarther, four distinct varie- 

 ties, varying in size and colour a little, but all so near, 

 that a person acquainted with any one, and tasting 

 another variety, would at once recognize it as a Seek- 

 nofarther; the growth of the trees also resembles each 

 other so closely that may be readily selected. The va- 

 rieties of Junitting bear the same description, all pe- 

 culiar in their growth, and time of ripening, and fla- 

 vour. Now how are we to account satisfactorily, unless 

 upon the principle that the pistil is aftected in propor- 

 tion to the quantity of pollen deposited ? If this be so, 

 then what a field lies open for improvement by the 

 horticulturist? I am convinced that if the principles 

 of the fructification of plants were more generally un- 

 derstood by our agriculturists and horticulturists, and 

 that emulation excited which exists among those en- 

 gaged in breeding of animals, that a corresponding im- 

 provement might be made, and in all probability at- 

 tended with as fair a ))rofit as those have realized who 

 liave paid their attention exclusively to animals. 



Problems. — Suppose a tree-top was enclosed in a glass 

 frame during the flowering season — would not the flow- 

 ers be impregnated with their own pollen, provided 

 they were perfect flowers? And if so, would not the 

 seeds produce plants t!ie same in all their characteris- 

 tics? And could not this be done, and trees raised at 

 a cheaper rate than by grafting? 



It is hoped that gentlemen having opportunities will, 

 t}iis season, endeavour to solve some of the above pro- 

 blems. 



N. GOODSELL. 



Rochester, April 26, 1841. 



