PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES. 117 



therefore that the success of any experiment in planting seeds 

 for growing seedling trees depends entirely upon the selection 

 you make of your seeds. By what rule can we be governed in 

 making that selection ? 



Col. Wilder. I believe I have already expressed my views 

 on that very point — that it is necessary to select the best and 

 most perfect seed. The system of grafting two varieties into 

 one tree, that they may be fertilized by the wind, is another 

 process of uniting the kinds ; and when the seed has been pro- 

 cured, after the one has been fertilized by the other, a variation 

 will be produced, but it is impossible to say what it will be. 

 But the great law of having strong parents, or even strong 

 parent seed, I suppose holds good throughout all creation. 



Mr. FooTE. What is the best system for the production of 

 new varieties ? Do you prefer artificial cross-fertilization to any 

 other mode ? 



Col. Wilder. That is a delicate operation, but the success is 

 more sure and the progress more rapid ; we get a great many 

 more fruits. There is no better illustration of what may be 

 done by sowing seeds than the fruits Mr. Foote has shown. 

 Those are American fruits ; they are sure to succeed here. 

 They have got the elements that are necessary to make them 

 successful. What their precise qualities are must be ascertained 

 hereafter, but many of them have beauty and size. If Mr. 

 Foote, in his long and industrious life, should only produce one 

 good variety, adapted to our soil and climate, he would be a 

 public benefactor. Think of the number of persons in this 

 country engaged in the cultivation of fruit ! Should each one 

 produce as many varieties as Mr. Foote has produced, we should 

 have enough to last for centuries, of varieties adapted to every 

 soil and location in our country. 



Mr. Slade. I understood Col. WiLder to remark, that in 

 order that fruit may retain its preserving qualities, it should be 

 put up moist and not even wiped. That is contrary to my ex- 

 perience. I have always succeeded best in preserving fruit by 

 wiping it dry. 



Mr. Foote. I intended to have added to what I said in rela- 

 tion to these seedlings, that I have produced three or four Seckel 

 seedlings, one of which has the very decided approbation of Mr. 

 Downing, who has repeatedly pronounced it superior, to his 



