IMPROVEMENT OF PLANTS, 259 



EXPERIMENT 30. (a) As soon as the terminal bud has 

 become quite distinct, it should be removed. 



(/;) The development of lateral branches should be 

 carefully watched and their terminal buds removed. 



(r) This should be continued at will, according to the 

 form of the plant desired (Fig. 83). 



EXPERIMENT 31. If size of blossom or of fruit is de- 

 sired, all but a few of the flower buds should be removed, 

 allowing those which are most advantageously situated 

 in regard to light and food supply to remain. 



The chrysanthemum or cosmos will afford good mate- 

 rial for this experiment with reference to size of 

 blossom, while the tomato will furnish excellent material 

 with regard to size of fruit. 



The modifications of the plant and the bene- 

 fits to be derived from the various methods of 

 pruning 1 will be further discussed under the gen- 

 eral subject of pruning. 



(2) Variation may be induced by CROSS-FER- 

 TILIZATION. It may be possible that no plant 

 can yet be found which combines the essential 

 characteristics of the " ideal." In that case it 

 would be advisable to select two plants, each of 

 which possesses one or more of these characters, 

 and to try to combine these in one plant by 

 means of cross-fertilization. 



The Trophy tomato well illustrates the com- 

 bination in one plant of the desired characters 

 of two separate plants. In 1850, Dr. Hand, of 

 Baltimore County, Maryland, desired to unite 

 the large size and firm flesh of the compound, 

 much convoluted tomato with the smooth skin 



