CHAPTER XIII 



THE ORIGIN AND IMPROVEMENT OF FRUIT 



In a study of the vast number of fruit varieties now grown 

 in America, the fortuitous nature of their origin is impres- 

 sive. The larger part of the varieties of apples planted in 

 this country originated here, but the histoiy of many is ob- 

 scure and only a veiy few came into existence as the result 

 of direct breeding. This statement is true in large part for 

 the other fruits also, in contrast to such other horticultural 

 crops as flowers, ornamentals, and vegetables. Some work- 

 ers have devoted their hves to the production of new fruits, 

 but not until comparatively recent times have practical re- 

 sults of much consequence been secured through breeding. 



The histoiy of the activities of man in the origin and es- 

 tablishment of American pomology is highly interesting, 

 much of it being available in the writings of Bailey. 



The outstanding difficulties in the production of new fruits 

 by breeding or in the study of the laws of inheritance as they 

 pertain to fruit-trees are: (a) the length of time required to 

 secure the fruit of a new generation; (b) the small number 

 of individuals that can be handled in such work with the 

 larger tree-fruits; and (c) self-sterility, which is often en- 

 countered in lines of attack. 



The first great stimulus to the breeding of fruits came 

 from the conspicuous work of Van Mons in Belgium and 

 Knight in England. The theories and work of these men 

 should be perpetuated in our literature. 



276. Theory of Van Mons. — Jean Baptiste Van Mons was 

 a celebrated chemist of Belgium (1765-1842) who became 

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