186 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



with an expectation amounting to assurance that such waiting 

 on nature will not fail of its full reward. 



But seed-raising has become a business in the community ; 

 and shall not that be conformed to these principles ? " Where 

 can I buy good seeds, sure to come true to their names?" is a 

 question oftener asked than answered every spring. And this 

 is without any impeachment of the seedsman's integrity, 

 Because seeds are raised by Shakers, or by any honest people 

 who are not Shakers, will not keep the bees from hybridizing 

 them. The difficulty of keeping the varieties distinct and 

 pure, increases every year by the introduction of new varie- 

 ties, hybrids of former ones. Against this tendency there is 

 nothing but extra care, guided by a skilful adherence to some 

 secure methods of procedure, which will prevail. 



Mr. Editor — I believe I have suitably answered the three 

 questions originally proposed, 1. as to the advantage ; 2. as 

 to the feasibility, and, 3. as to the methods of the " improve- 

 ment and preservation of species." 



The subject is intensely interesting to those who will ex- 

 amine it ; and I know of no field of inquiry and experiment 

 more likely to prove valuable to the cause of true horticul- 

 ture. It scarcely need be added, that scientific hybridization 

 is dependent upon somewhat similar methods, and upon equal 

 care and pains. In conclusion, I would express the hope that 

 some of your readers will practically test, for their own grati- 

 fication, and for the cause, the hints here dropped ; and from 

 such experiments we may possibly derive the double advan- 

 tage of a better appreciation of the beauty and precision of 

 the processes of nature, and of greater acquisitions among 

 the products of human toil expended upon the teeming earth. 



Dur correspondent has most ably treated this important 

 subject, and has certainly well answered the propositions 

 which he advanced in his first paper. Of the "advantages" 

 and " feasibility" of improvement in our vegetables and fruits, 

 no one can have any doubt ; but the methods of accomplish- 

 ing this have not often been so familiarly discussed, nor have 

 been generally supposed so simple. — Ed. 



