70 PLANT BREEDING 



sticks, about 2 ft. high, alongside the beds, light bamboos or other 

 sticks being placed over these lengthwise and across, while cadjans 

 or other material used for shade can be laid on the top and regu- 

 lated or removed as required. 



Nursery-, or Propagating-sheds. In the hill districts some 

 protection from wind and raiii is usually indispensable. A service- 

 able shelter may be afforded by erecting a half-span roof of thatch, 

 either over the beds where formed, or in a sheltered corner 

 specially set apart for propagating purposes. The roof should be 

 about 3 ft. off the ground at the back, about 5 ft. in front, and 

 facing the morning sun. Such structures- are also useful for the 

 cultivation of such crops as Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Violets, etc. r 

 which thrive best under protection. 



PLANT BREEDING 



The term plant-breeding is applied to the improvement of 

 plants by producing new strains, whether for economic or 

 ornamental purposes. Its effects are of equal importance to 

 the planter, farmer or gardener, and upon it depends the prorit- 

 able cultivation of many crops or races of plants. The great 

 progress made in horticulture and agriculture during recent 

 years is chiefly due to the patient efforts of the plant-breeder. 

 Briefly stated, the process consists of crossing or hybridising 

 selected species or varieties w r hich possess specially useful or desired 

 characters, the method of procedure being to transfer the pollen or 

 male element from the flower of the one plant to the pistil (respec- 

 tive organ) of another. By this means, together with the aid of 

 high cultivation and a process of careful selection of the best 

 varieties, many entirely new races of plants have been evolved. 

 Thus have originated most of the choicest flowers of the garden, 

 and the most luscious and productive fruits and vegetables. 



Until comparatively recently, the possibility of producing a 

 hybrid was considered to be confined to plants of different species 

 belonging to one genus, it being generally believed to be impossible 

 to produce a cross between different genera. Now/, however, we 

 have bigeneric and multigene'ric hybrids, and new generic names 

 have been created for them. Thus, there is the Citrange, a cross 

 between a citron and an orange ; the Phnncoi, a hybrid between 

 the plum and the apricot. Great advances have been made especially 

 in the bigeneric hybridisation of orchids, so that we are now 

 familiar with such bigeneric titles as Odontioda (a hybrid between 



