CHAPTER V. 



PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES. 



THE tendency is more or less common in all 

 plants, to vary from the character first stamped up- 

 on them. This disposition is increased by remo- 

 val from their native climate or locality, and greatly 

 by cultivation. By a constant selection of some 

 particular quality in successive crops, a gradual re- 

 moval from the character of the original is effected. 

 Most of our finest fruits, we have reason to believe, 

 have been gradually produced by the improvement 

 of the original native kinds. 



The improvements effected in former ages, were 

 doubtless the result of accident, as the ancients 

 were ignorant of the means for their systematic 

 accomplishment. The greatest progress in the art 

 which has been made in modern times, was effect- 

 ed by Van Mons in Belgium and by Knight in 

 England. 



The former, who directed his labors chiefly to 

 the pear, produced many new and excellent varie- 

 ties, by a constant and successive selection of the 

 best seedlings. He first made a large collection 

 of natural stocks, choosing those which, from the 



