76 THE GRAPE CUL'JTtlEIB'I. 



These difficulties in determining the cause that may hnve 

 produced a certain change, ought not to deter us in our 

 efforts at hybridizing. 



The world cares but Uttle how a thing is produced, or 

 where it is from, but is only interested in the results. Our 

 greatest danger as cultivators lies in the fact, that partial 

 success will often direct our thoughts into a region of false 

 theories, from which it is difficult to extricate ourselves 

 without unlearning all that which we have previously 

 learned. 



In all our efforts at hybridizing, attention should be 

 given to the adaptation of the plants to the circumstances 

 under which they are to be grown. 



If it is our object to produce a plant for this latitude, we 

 should avoid, if possible, crossing with a variety that riperiH 

 late, or is otherwise unsuitable. The aim in all our opera- 

 tions should be, to develop those qualities that are most 

 valuable, and discourage those that are not; for tfiese inter- 

 crossings wiU often produce an individual variety more 

 valuable' to us than either of the parents. Again, we may 

 cross two superior varieties, and the result wUl be a kind 

 that is very inferior. But it is this very uncertainty that 

 makes the operation of fertilizing so fascinating. If we 

 could know exactly what the results of our labor would be, 

 it would be robbed of half its charms. 



It is undoubtedly the fact that true hybrids have been, 

 and can be produced ; even if they had not been, none will 

 deny that the crossing of varieties is often of the utmost 

 importance to grape growers, therefore I can not do less 

 than urge all to tiy it often and persistently. 



