PI,ANT BREI^DING. 175 



In pear growing it is very important to combine the disease 

 resisting qualities of the Oriental varieties with the highest 

 ■quality of fruit of the European sorts. Some hundreds of 

 crosses have been made with this in view. 



In plum culture, especially in northern New England, the 

 same problem is met. In former years plum growing was an 

 extensive industry in the Penobscot valley, but the dreaded 

 black knot drove the industry out of the country. Is it possible, 

 "by crossing with the Japanese varieties, which seem less subject 

 to the attack of this disease, to produce sorts which, while resist- 

 ant to disease, shall be hardy enough to resist the severe winter? 



Cherries also, in years past, have formed an important item 

 in the income of fruit growers along the Kennebec. But the 

 demand for sour cherries in the Boston markets is limited, and 

 the hearts and biggarreaus are very uncertain in point of hardi- 

 ness. Most of the cherries for which Hallowell and Gardiner 

 liave been locally noted in the past, were seedlings of Black 

 Tartarian. But these seedlings are very uncertain and are 

 frequently killed back by severe winters. With a view to com- 

 bining the vigor and hardiness of the sour cherries with the 

 good qualities of the fruit of the sweet sorts. Card of Rhode 

 Island, has made numerous crosses. A large proportion of the 

 sour cherries crossed by the sweet varieties matured fruit which 

 apparently was normal. Curiously enough, however, the recip- 

 rocal crosses in every instance failed to mature fruit ; * and in 

 a personal letter to the w^riter, Professor Card writes that in only 

 two instances was he able to secure germination from the crosses 

 made — and these seedlings met with an accident and were lost. 



Apples, quinces, peaches and the various small fruits, are all, 

 without doubt, capable of producing disease resisting forms 

 which shall do away, in a measure at least, with the expense 

 and labor of spraying and otherwise combating the numerous 

 fungous pests with which the orchardist must contend. 



While the reigning types of native fruits are the result, largely, 

 of the force of circumstances rather than the direct choice of 

 man, an intelligent choice of species and of forms has, never- 

 theless, played an important part in the evolution of these types, 

 and it may play a still more important part in the years to come. 



*Rpt. R. I. Expt. Station, 1899, 130. 



