IN THE FLOWER GARDEN 



orchard fruits, of such vegetables as the potato, 

 and of bulbous plants in general. 



But a large number of our flowering plants are 

 annuals that are reproduced solely by the seed. 

 With these it is obviously a matter of great im- 

 portance that the seedlings should reproduce the 

 qualities of the parent, otherwise the new variety 

 that you produce would have no permanency. 



It is precisely here that the patience of the 

 plant developer is most often put to a test. Very 

 generally the new variety that you develop by 

 hybridization, and which you would wish to per- 

 petuate, does not breed true from the seed. It 

 becomes necessary, then, in order that your new 

 variety shall have real importance, that you 

 should practice systematic selective line breeding 

 until you "fix" the desired quality or qualities. 



To this end, you must sow the seed of your se- 

 lected variety, and permit all the seedlings to ma- 

 ture. Among the hundreds of plants, there will 

 probably be a few that reproduce the attractive 

 qualities of the parent. The best of these should 

 be carefully inbred self-fertilized and its seed 

 sown next season ; and a similar selection followed 

 up, year after year, if need be, until a plant is 

 secured all the seed of which will reproduce the 

 desired quality. 



If a single quality is in question, you will gen- 

 erally be able to "fix" the type in two genera- 

 tions. But if several new qualities are combined 

 in your favored variety, it may be necessary to 

 carry out the selective line breeding for five or 



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