76 MARKET GARDENING. 



a mile in width. This natural disposition of established 

 sorts to cross-breed has been taken advantage of by 

 expert gardeners desiring to unite in one individual the 

 good qualities of others. For instance, a very early 

 pointed cabbage may be crossed with a very late flat one, 

 with the view of producing a variety, uniting the good 

 qualities of both ; or with canteloupes, a poor variety 

 with a showy netting may advantageously be crossed with 

 a rich flavored sort without netting, and the result be a 

 very desirable development, and so on with other plants 

 without limitation. 



The gardener, possessing a greenhouse, can conduct 

 experiments in hybridizing with more convenience and 

 certainty in results than in the open garden, as inclem- 

 ent weather will not interfere with his labors, nor insects 

 defeat his purposes by crossing his selected plants from 

 unknown sources. 



Seed Growers. The professional seed grower 

 aims to produce his general stock of seed without hy- 

 bridization. He starts with approved forms and, grow- 

 ing them apart, endeavors to strengthen or extend the 

 desirable qualities of size, color, flavor, hardiness, or 

 time of maturity. But all seed growers do not look 

 upon a vegetable or fruit with the same eye and mind, 

 consequently their conceptions of merit vary, and so do 

 the plants which they pick out for select stock for the 

 ensuing year. Thus it comes that seeds sold under the 

 same name produce very different types of plants. One 

 sugar corn grower may select his Evergreen, with short 

 jointed stocks, having ears near the ground ; another 

 may pay no attention to the position of the ears, but 

 select his seed alone for the size and shape of ear and 

 depth and lightness of grain ; or one squash grower may, 

 for years, choose his from which to save seed as respects 

 closeness of setting upon the vine, outward shape and 

 color of fruit; while another may dwell principally 



