10 PRODUCTION <JF NEW VARIETIES. 



whose character is most permanent, impresses its form most for- 

 cibly on the offspring. 



The process of obtaining cross-bred seeds of fruit trees is very 

 easily performed. It is only necessary when the tree blooms 

 which we intend to be the mother of the improved race, to select 

 a blossom or blossoms growing upon it not yet fully expanded. 

 With a pair of scissors, we cut out and remove all the. anthers. 

 The next day, or as soon as the blossom is quite expanded, we 

 collect with a camel's hair brush, the pollen from a fully blown 

 flower of the variety we intend for the male parent, applying 

 the pollen and leaving it upon the stigma or point of the pistil. 

 If your trees are much exposed to those busy little meddlers, 

 the bees, it is well to cover the blossoms with a loose bag of 

 thin gauze, or they will perhaps get beforehand with you in 

 your experiments in cross-breeding. Watch the blossoms closely 

 as they open, and bear in mind that the two essential points in 

 the operation are ; 1st, to extract the anthers carefully, before 

 they have matured sufficiently to fertilize the pistil ; and 2d, to 

 apply the pollen when it is in perfection, (dry and powdery,) 

 and while the stigma is moist. A very little practice will enable 

 the amateur to judge of these points. 



There are certain limits to the power of crossing plants. 

 What is strictly called a cross-bred plant or fruit is a sub-variety 

 raised between two varieties of the same species. There are, 

 however, certain species, nearly allied, which are capable of fer- 

 tilizing each other. The offspring in this case is called a hybrid, 

 or mule, and does not always produce perfect seeds. " This 

 power of hybridising," says Dr. Lindley, " appears to be much 

 more common in plants than in animals. It is, however, in 

 general only between nearly allied species that this intercourse 

 can take place ; those which are widely different in structure 

 and constitution not being capable of any artificial union. Thus 

 the different species of Strawberry, of the gourd or melon family, 

 intermix with the greatest facility, there being a great accord- 

 ance between them in general structure, and constitution. But 

 no one has ever succeeded in compelling the pear to fertilize the 

 apple, nor the gooseberry the currant. And as species that are 

 very dissimilar appear to have some natural impediment which 

 prevents their reciprocal fertilization, so does this obstacle, of 

 whatever nature it may be, present an insuperable bar to the in- 

 tercourse of the different genera. All the stories that are cur- 

 rent as to the intermixture of oranges and pomegranates, of 

 roses and black currants, and the like, may therefore be set 

 down to pure invention." 



In practice this power of improving varieties by crossing is 

 very largely resorted to by gardeners at the present day. Not 

 only in fruit trees, but in ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants, 

 and especially in florists' flowers, it has been carried to a great 



