SECRETARY'S REPORT. 155 



tion,) may sometimes shed the calicos before the pollen is ripe, 

 or the calix may be carefully removed by delicate pincers, and 

 the germ fertilized by tlio pollen of another variety. This would 

 be a difficult operation, however, for the abundant ripe blooms 

 opening at the same time would fill the air with their pollen, 

 and impregnation would be likely to take place before the 

 operator could act. He could, however, cut away all the blooms 

 except those he wishes to operate upon, and after carefully 

 removing all the anthers from those saved, with a pair of sharp- 

 pointed scissors, before the inflorescence of the pollen^ impreg- 

 nate tlie germs with a camel's hair pencil. This is the surest 

 method. But grapes are supposed to be hybridized sometimes 

 without aid, or by accident. 



This is not impossible. Some kinds of grape, like the Oporto, 

 and some others, have defective stamens — either too short to 

 reach the stigma, or contorted and weak — so that only a portion 

 of the berries are impregnated, and grow. If the pollen of 

 another grape, hanging over them, should be shed upon the 

 unimprcgnatcd germs, true hybrids would ensue ; or if bunches 

 of ripe bloom should be shaken over them, the same result 

 would happen. Those berries naturally impregnated would give 

 grapes by direct descent, and those artificially impregnated 

 would give hybrids, so that this rude method would be uncer- 

 tain. On the whole, then, we must conclude that it is possible 

 to effect " cross-breeding," but uncertain and difficult. Suppose 

 you have siicceeded, what advantage have you gained ? 



A cross of the foreign grape upon the native is supposed to 

 graft upon the hardy stock the delicacy of the foreign grape. 

 It does more, — it grafts upon it the delicacy of constitution inci- 

 dent to the foreign grape. Witness one of the few unmistakable 

 hybrids in this country — Allen's hybrid — bred from the Chasselas 

 (one of the most hardy of the French grapes,) and the Isabella ; 

 it is not hardy enough to live out-doors without protection, and 

 is liable to mildew, and late in ripening. You have got a good 

 grape, but not a hardy one, and it is nearly as useless to you as 

 a foreign grape. 



On the whole, I prefer the grape raised from seeds by direct 

 descent, for not only is it more hardy, but every improvement is 

 the sure starting point for a still further improvement, whereas, 



