868 REPORT— 1897. 



apple, pear, plum, and cherry, and with several species of ornamental shrubs and 

 ■wild flowers. 



Among the most interesting results ohtained with fruits may be mentioned 

 some hybrids between the black currant as female and the gooseberry as male, 

 ■which show in a very striking manner the influence of both parents. In the 

 hybrids the leaves are intermediate in form and character. In all but two 

 instances the leaves have no odour when bruised, and in these the characteristic 

 odour of the black currant is but faintly perceptible. The flowers also are inter- 

 mediate in the size of the clusters and the number of flowers on each. Even in 

 the structure of the pistil the flower partakes of the characteristics of both parents. 

 In the black currant it is single, short, and robust; in the gooseberry it is long and 

 slender, and divided to the base; in the hybrid the pistil is cleft halfway down. 

 Very little fruit has yet been produced, but the berries thus far have been borne 

 singly, and are of a dull reddish colour. 



The gooseberry sawfly, Nematus Ribesii, which does not eat the foliage of the 

 black currant, feeds on the leaves of the hybrids ; the gooseberry mildew also, 

 Sphcsrotheca Mors-uves, which does not affect the black currant, attacks these 

 hybrids. Although these have been raised from seed of the black currant, their 

 gooseberry characteristics are recognised by both animal and vegetable parasites. 



Another interesting hybrid spoken of was the result of a cross between the 

 Clinton, an improved form of the native wild grape Vitis cordifolia, with Buck- 

 land's Sweetwater, a variety of Vitis vinifera. The Clinton produces a bunch 

 which is small, long, and very compact, with a round black berry, quite acid. The 

 Sweetwater forms a large loose bunch, and the berries are large, oval, and pale 

 yellowish green. The hybrid produces large, rather loose, shouldered clusters with 

 berries oval in form, and of a pale yellowish green colour. In size, form, colour, 

 and quality the fruit resembles that of the male more than the female parent. 



A number of varieties of dark purple raspberries have been produced by cross- 

 ing the black cap rz.s^herry, Rubusoccidentalis, with one of the cultivated forms of the 

 red raspberry, Bnbus strigosus. The former is propagated by emitting roots from the 

 tips of the pendulous branches when these touch the ground, while the latter sends 

 up suckers from the running roots. The hybrids have usually rooted from the tips, 

 but not freely, but in several instances occasional suckers have been sent up from 

 the roots. The fruit has a flavour which is a striking combination of that of botl> 

 parents. 



Many crosses have been made during the past three years, using Pt/rus hnccata 

 ss female, the pollen being obtained from a number of different varieties of the 

 most hardy Russian apples. Pyi-us haccata has proved quite hardy on the north- 

 west plains, where all the larger and better sorts of apples have failed, and this 

 work has been undertaken with the object of securing useful fruits which will be 

 hardy in the north-west country. With a similar object hybrids have also been 

 obtained between the sand cherrv, Pj-unus pumila, and the cultivated forms of the 

 American plum, Prunus americana. 



Some very promising varieties of wheat have been originated by crossing the 

 Ladoga — a Russian sort — with Red and "White Fife. One of these, known as 

 Preston, ripens earlier than Red or White Fife, and in the tests made last season 

 with a large number of varieties it stood first in productiveness. 



Very distinct hybrids have been obtained between two-rowed and six-rowed 

 barley, some of which are proving commercially valuable. Interesting results have 

 also been had by crossing different sorts of oats ; also different varieties of pease. 



In ornamental shrubs striking hybrids have been produced between two species 

 of barberry, Berberis Thunhergii, and Berheris vulgai-is pui-purea, combining the 

 peculiarities of both parents in flowers, fruit, leaves, and general habit to a 

 remarkable extent. 



On a Hybrid Fern, tvith Remarks on Hyhridity. 

 By Professor J. B. Farmer. 



