PLANT-BREEDING 273 



desirable to record all the operations and observations 

 relative to the crossing. 



444. The selection of crossed seedlings is a most 

 important operation in producing new varieties by cross- 

 ing. If none of the seedlings of the first generation ex- 

 hibits the desired qualities, those of a succeeding genera- 

 tion may exhibit them. The plants nearest the ideal 

 should be selected, and all the seeds from these pre- 

 served for planting. When the ideal plant is found, 

 it may be readily fixed by means of cuttings or grafts 

 in plants generally propagated in this way. In those 

 propagated by seed, several generations of culture and 

 selection may be necessary before the progeny will uni- 

 formly resemble the parent. 



445. Planting with reference to chance crossings. 

 Many valuable varieties have unquestionably arisen from 

 accidental crosses between plants of different varieties 

 that chanced to be growing in proximity. Profiting by 

 this hint, varieties are sometimes planted near together 

 to favor self-crossing, a practice to be encouraged. 



446. Plant-breeders are benefactors. He who pro- 

 duces fruits or flowers for others works a transient good. 

 But he who produces a variety of fruit or flower that is 

 superior to any now known confers upon his race a per- 

 manent good. Until the introduction of the Wilson straw- 

 berry, the markets of our country were not supplied with 

 this delicious and wholesome fruit, because no known 

 variety was sufficiently productive to be generally profit- 

 able, or sufficiently firm to endure long carriage. There 

 are wild fruits in our copses to-day that are doubtless 

 worthy of improvement, and in most of our fruits now 

 under culture the development of superior varieties would 

 greatly enhance their value. " The harvest is truly 

 great, but the laborers are few." 



