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A MANUAL OF BOTANY 61 



Grafting is the common method of improving the varieties 

 of apples, pears, phims, cherries, and other fruits. It is 

 now commonly combined with selected seedling production. 

 The method of operation is : first, to plant large numbers 

 of seeds procured from choice, vigorous, and hardy apples 

 (or other fruit), and when old enough, graft the choice seed- 

 lings with the desired varieties, the result being a combina- 

 tion of inherited and acquired qualities. (The method of 

 grafting may be given by the instructor.) 



Budding, different in operative procedure, has the same 

 ends obtained by similar methods. 



Selection of seedlings is a prolific method of producing 

 new varieties. ]\Iany plants, apples, pears, plums, peaches, 

 berries, potatoes, etc., do not reproduce "true" from seed. 

 The seedlings will seldom resemble the parent in all points. 

 Hence by careful selections from great numbers of choice 

 seedlings, fine plants may now and then be found, superior 

 in all particulars. In this manner many line fruit varieties 

 have originated. 



The principles of pruning may be learned by demonstra- 

 tion at the hands of the instructor. 



10. Flowers of the Apple Family or Subfamily — 

 Pears, Apples, Crahs, and Hawtiiorxs 



The trees. Examine, if possible, the trees as they grow 

 in the orchard or occur wild in woodlands and observe in 

 particular their size and form, also the tendency to thorns 

 that most forms show, more especially wild or seedling 

 varieties. Discover the effect that cultivation has on the 

 thorny condition of the trees, also upon the size and condi- 

 tion of the fruit. 



Flowers. Fxamiue a Hower cluster. What is the inflo- 

 rescence ? What advantage is there in having several flow- 

 ers near each other in the same cluster? Look at a flower. 



