150 



THE POMOLOGIST. 



November 



For the Western Pomologist : 



Variety in Fruit and Flowers. 



The " Dt/eJiouse" clierry — New variety of 

 fruiU by accident — Efybridizing — Artificial 

 fructification,— Cross-breeds, &c . 



On roading the article of H. T. Harris, in 

 the September No. of your journal, about 

 his " new cherry," and his concluding re- 

 marks arrested my attention, and having 

 made vegetable physiology and botany a study 

 for the last thirty-five years, (being now 

 over 61,) your readers will not deem me im- 

 perliaeut in presenting a few facts which may 

 interest some at least. 



It is regarded that each species is the type 

 of some origiual genus or sort, be it plant or 

 an animal. I will confine my remarks to 

 plants, however. Varieties arise from a di- 

 versity of condition. That is two seeds of 

 the same pod or plant springing up in differ- 

 ent soils, may difler ultimately in some par- 

 ticular in their fruit, as to mellowness, aus- 

 terity, color, and quality. 



It is found that certain spots in the same 

 patch of gniuud diifer greatly in the compo- 

 sition of the soil, arising perhaps from having 

 been dug out at one time for the iittermgnt 

 of some beast, sink or hole filled up, or the 

 like, and yielding a certain pabulum, calcu- 

 lated to give a special cast to the sap and 

 character of the tree or plant, which results 

 in the modification or improvement of the 

 leaf and fruit — in short, produces a new va_ 

 rety. This is the natural course. 



To perpetuate such a variety, whether 

 obtained through the skill of man's culture, or 

 spontaneous!}' in a natural way. The new buds 

 and branches being all imbued with this 

 peculiar change, grafts and cuttings will 

 reproduce the same variety under cultiva- 

 tion. The seeds of apples, peas, cherries, 

 &c. of such variety when planted may pro- 

 duce the origiual type. As those differ from 

 such races as the varieties of pears, radishes, 

 lettuce, &c., as well as certain sorts of 

 grain, in which varieties have beeu under 

 culture for time so long that the origin or 

 locality is unknown. 



Those conversant with the history of va- 

 rious kinds of wheat, &c., are aware that 

 many resulted from " accidental sports ;" but 

 mark, I hold that certain laws govern "acci- 

 dents." Also by selecting the most vigorous 

 plants and the most prolific and well filled 

 heads, and cultivating such with care, so as 

 to become hereditary and rendered perma- 

 nent by attention to the cultivation of the 

 same. 



Thus it will be seen that Mr. H. can dis- 

 miss the fear of being accused of lending his 

 pen or purse in the interest of a " humbug." 

 Nor is it necessary to consider it a sprout of 

 the " Early Richmond." Where or how did 

 the "Early Richmond" come to light? 

 Either by chance or cultivation, and what 

 has taken place once can happen again un- 

 der like conditions, whether induced bj' skill 



of man or f irtuitious circumstances in the 

 nature of the thing. 



Hence, it might occur in an " old Jtorello 

 thickit on the secluded grounds of an old 

 min. " If he did not know a " cherry 

 from a grape," his ignorance has 

 nothing to do with it. The loftiest wisdom 

 of man might not have Ijeen adequate to 

 the task under the circumstances. 80 that 

 if it is an improved cherry, no matter 

 whether you call it " Earl}' Richmond," or 

 " Dyehouse," persevere from good to better, 

 and use the legitimate means of mind and 

 matter a bountiful creator has supplied and 

 placed at your disposal. 



Being on this topic, allow me to ride my 

 hobby a little longer. You, Mr. Editor, arc 

 aware of the constant addition of varieties 

 to the already lengthy catalogues of fruit and 

 flowers, of what are termed hybrids or cross- 

 breeds, in numerous instances. 



You are aware, also, that there is a strong 

 natural tendency to return to their primitive 

 type, or to die out through exhaustion by 

 being too greatly forced or over-fed, or when 

 neglected for a few generations to a spontan- 

 eous growth. Thus it happens that fine, 

 show}', plants, highly esteemed new varie. 

 ties are often sold, aud from the change of 

 locality and condition of soil, or negligence, 

 the purchaser meets with disappointments, 

 and considers that some shameful imposition 

 has been enacted, and is apt to charge tlie 

 propogater with deception, of wliich he is 

 guiltless, only that no one knows better than 

 himself. How very precarious the perma- 

 nency of certain kinds is, and how liable to 

 depauperate, and often sink below the orig- 

 inal. There seems to be limits that caimot be 

 surpassed, and a hight of perfection not yet 

 reached. Yet, progress is made and pcrma 

 nency mostly secured. Vegetable physiology 

 presents many interesting phases, many of 

 which are not yet fully comprehended. A s 

 regards fertilization, the facts seem to teach 

 that " when,a grain of pollen has fallen upon 

 the stigma, and is retained by the hairs pro- 

 jecting from the surfiice, a pollen tube Is 

 emitted, apparently owing to endosmatic ac- 

 tion between the fluid exudation from the 

 stigma and the contents of the pollen cell, 

 which latter bursts aud sets free the inner 

 lining of the cell in the form of a cylindri- 

 cal tube. This lube passes down betw^een- 

 the cells of the style, lengthening out 

 till it at last reaches the ovules in the cavity 

 of tlie ovary. This lengthening is not a 

 mere extension, but due to actual inter- 

 stitial growth, until it comes in contact with 

 the nucleus* and embryoack. A slender 

 cellular thread arises from the minute ger- 

 minal vesicles, on the end of which is the 

 embryo plant," so says Masters, M. D., in his 

 " Life of a Seed." 



The importance of the pollen is well un- 

 derstood, and is not a new thin.g. Delille, 

 the botanist, says, when with the expedition 



to Egypt, where the harvest of dates has for 

 ages been a.=sured by mounting the palms 

 and shaking the male panicles upon the fe- 

 male flowers. But the French invasion 

 prevented the Arabs to attend to this matter ; 

 and the consequence was that the date trees 

 remained barren for that season. 



Insects perform important duties in 

 the line of scattering pollen, and may be 

 instrumental in producing varieties, occa- 

 sionally. Aristotle, Thesphrastes, and Pliny 

 speak of the marvelous results of a certain 

 fly in fecundating the fig, termed "caprifia- 

 tion." Tournfort demoustratctl this correct- 

 ness, aud says that the "caprificd fig tree 

 yields as much as 380 pounds of fruit, while 

 only 25 pounds can be gotton from it when 

 it is not artificially fructified. It is however 

 as with much matter again questioned. 01- 

 liver, who also saw this operation practiced 

 durijg his travels in the Levant, and Bosc, 

 the writer of husb ndry, look upon it as 

 useless. As circumstances alter cases, a 

 diversity of opinions naturally exist on 

 many subjects, hence it is well to know both 

 sides of the question, perchance the truth 

 lies between the extremes. 



Least I weary you, I will now dismount, 

 and respectfully leave and release yon. 



J. Stauffek. 



For the Western Pomologist. 



How Trees are Planted- 



Friend Millek. - Since I wrote you last, 

 I have visited several orchards in an adjoin- 

 ing county, where settlements and orchards 

 are older than in Crawford county, aiid I 

 find much to encourage the horticulturist. — 

 The apple crop is light, but the trees are 

 thrifty and promising. I find in "Warren 

 county and elsewhere in my travels three 

 classes of fruit growers. One class bui 

 their trees almost anywhere, and when 

 planted, pasture them, and have pasture 

 only. Others stimulate an unhealthy 

 growth by cultivation and manuring. — 

 But such growth does not stand the winter, 

 and the planter concludes that his locality 

 is no apple country. Those who succeed, 

 plant on hi.gh, dry laud, or make their land 

 dry by draining, if nhlurally wet. They do 

 not force an unnatural growth, nor do they 

 cut away a portion of the growth just 

 because they have a knife to do it with ar.d 

 think they must use it on something, nor do 

 the.y stimulate a late growth by late culti- 

 vation. 



In my last letter you make me say of the 



pruning knife : "give it to some little boy if 



he does whittle your cherries," etc. I meant 



to say "chairs. ' I do not believe iu much 



pruning. S. J. Comfort. 



Denison, lawa. 



4-».*^ 



In some parts of Connecticut rain is so 

 scarce and apples so abundant that cider is 

 absolutely cheaper than water. The teetotal 

 societies are panic-stricken, and are dis- 

 banding by the dozen. 



