How Domestic Varieties Originate 237 



particular class of plants. The horticulturists will recall, 

 for example, Lemoine in the breeding of gladiolus, Eckford 

 in peas, Crozy in cannas, Bruant in pelargoniums, and 

 others. There are now and then varieties which arise 

 from no effort, but because of that very fact they reflect 

 no credit upon the so-called originator, who is really only 

 the lucky finder. So far as the originator is concerned, 

 such varieties are merely chance. If, however, the 

 operator himself an expert judge of the plant with 

 which he deals chooses his seeds with care and dis- 

 crimination, and then proposes, if need be, to follow up 

 his work generation after generation of plants by means 

 of selection, the work becomes plant-breeding of the 

 highest type. 



First of all, therefore, the operator must know what 

 he can likely get, and what will likely be, worth getting. 

 Many persons, however, begin at the other end of the 

 problem, they get what they can, and then let 

 the public judge whether the effort has been worth 

 the while. 



11. Having derived a specific and correct ideal, the 

 operator must next seek to make his plant vary in the 

 desired direction. This may be done by crossing, or by 

 modifying the conditions under which the plant grows. 

 If there are any two plants that possess indications of 

 the desired attributes, cross them; among the seedlings 

 there may be some that may serve as starting-points for 

 further effort. 



A change in the circumstances or environment of the 

 plant may start the desired attribute. If the plant must 

 be dwarfer, plant it on poorer or drier soil, transfer it 



