104 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



will enable you to give valuable points to your fellows. As Emerson 

 says "If you make shoes better than anyone else you will find a 

 path beaten to your cottage door." 



It is profoundly interesting to study how new varieties come. 

 Nature works, often we know not how, in bringing forth new varie- 

 ties; the influence of heredity undoubtedly prevails to some extent 

 and instances are not wanting to show that it does. Let me give 

 you just one in my own experience: — three years ago we made a 

 number of crosses in Carnations using the variety Harlowarden 

 as one of the parents; you will recollect that this sort had a very 

 long, very desirable stem, and we noticed that about one-fifth of 

 these seedlings had this Harlowarden stem, but there were char- 

 acteristics developed in a number of seedlings which had no visible 

 connection with either of the parents. Sometimes, however, the 

 influence of both parents can be distinctly traced. Time will 

 allow me to mention only one or two instances: — Many of you will 

 recollect the introduction of the "Daybreak" Carnation, a charm- 

 ing variety which had not many stems, but these were long and 

 stiff, and every shoot produced a flower. About the same time 

 was introduced "Tidal Wave" which produced many stems but 

 lacking in length; the crossing of these two varieties produced the 

 famous "Lawson" which inherited the good points of both varieties. 

 Among the seedlings with Lawson blood has been found "Enchan- 

 tress" which I think has more good qualities than any other variety 

 and following along this line has resulted in producing a free- 

 blooming vigorous U'pe which has made Mr. Fisher famous. The 

 results of Mr. Walsh's work in roses of the Wichuraiana t^-pe are 

 little short of marvellous ; the man who does such things is a public 

 benefactor. But, while man can do something in breeding from 

 types, nature is always at work and often produces, we know not 

 how, valuable "breaks" in seedlings or sports, which are frequently 

 lost because the gardener fails to recognize their merits and propa- 

 gate and perpetuate them. Private gardeners have done much 

 in the past to preserve and propagate good new things and should 

 be ever on the alert to take advantage of any opportunities along 

 this Hne which kind nature may afford. The famous Seckel pear 

 was a "chance" seedling found growing along the roadside and 

 man had no hand in its origin, but some one should receive the 

 blessings of generations for preserving and propagating it. 



