92 3IA8SACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



On our grouuds the Middlefield, Sharpless, Bubaeh's No. 5, iiud 

 Jewell, take the lead, the last two being specially adapted to 

 hill-culture or the triple-roAv culture on rich soil. 



For a soil of onh' moderate fertilit}' the Crescent, Havilaud, or 

 Middlefield, would be better adapted, the others requiring 

 richer soil and better culture. The law of adaptation has appli- 

 cation here ; you would not use a seventy-four pounder with only 

 an ounce of powder, neither a pistol with a mammoth charge. 



As a rule we have found pistillate varieties most productive 

 when properly matched with suitable bi-sexuals, as we must have 

 pollen for the best blooms if we wish to have perfect fruit. Thus 

 three or four rows of the Jewell, with the Sharpless on one side 

 and the Belmont on the other, we consider well matched. Like- 

 wise the Jersey Queen with the Cumberland on one side and the 

 Charles Downing on the other have produced immensely. The 

 Belmont is a valuable match for the Jewell, because it furnishes 

 pollen even to the latest bloom. 



I am strongly of the opinion that cross-fertilization for the 

 Sharpless or any other bi-sexual variety is better than to depend 

 on its own pollen, believing that plants, like animals, have a stronger 

 affinit}' for a different strain of blood (so to speak,) from their own. 



Production of New Varieties. — The fact that varieties do 

 decline is a reason why we should make intelligent effort to pro- 

 duce new and better varieties. A few thoughts on this subject 

 may not be out of place. 



The mother variety from which the seed is taken should be a 

 pistillate, chosen for its good points, with a good male parent in 

 close proximity, in which case a true cross is well-nigh inevitable. 



A more precise method of procedure in crossing varieties is the 

 following which was a favorite plan with the venerable Seth 

 Boyden of honored memory. Set four bi-sexual plants of a select 

 variety in a small frame, thus : — 



as at a, a, a, «, uml iu the center, x, set a well chosen plant of the 

 desired pistillate variety' for the mother plant. Let all these 

 plants be forced to their highest development, especialh' the 

 mother plant x. Just before the lilooming season cover tlie frame 

 with a sash to prevent insects from bringing foreign pollen. 



