THE FLOEIST 



MD HOETICULTUEAL JQTJMAL. 



THE READING PEAR, 

 Oar plate this month is a drawing of a Pear* for which we are 

 indebted to the kindness of Dr. Win. D. Brinckle of this city, who 

 received it from Mr, Chas. Kessler of Reading. It is a winter pear 3 

 just now in eating order. It has been described in the ad interim re- 

 ports of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society ; and we have no 

 doubt will prove a desirable acquisition. 



ARTIFICIAL FECUNDATION OF FLOWERS, 



BY PROtf. CHARLES G. PAGE, M. L>. 



la the course of many thousand experiments in cross-fertilization, I have 

 noticed some interesting phenomena which seemed to open up anew field of 

 investigation and practice. In our rapid progress in the production of new 

 varieties of flowers and fruits we see no terminus, and our enthusiasm kindles 

 at the ever-widening circles pushing the limits farther and farther out, 

 upon each new acquisition. Rut in our race for novelties let us have & care 

 to the perfection of that which is old, and the advantages will proclaim them- 

 selves sooner or later in the production of that which is new. Certain it is, 

 that there is at this time rather a tendency to innovate than to improve, and 

 perhaps too much rivalry in the former and too little in the latter. These 

 remarks are not intended to apply to the production of new flowers,- nor are 

 they intended to discourage the production of new fruits, but are designed 

 chiefly to direct attention to the improvement of our established fruits, pru- 

 ning, disbudding, thinning out, ringing ', girdling > lending down, cutting the 

 roots, acupuncturation, caprification, seasonable 'waterings and manuring s, 

 and good culture in any way, will give us large fruits and prize specimens ; 

 but I am led to believe from certain observations that the importance of fecunda- 

 tion in this connection ha3 been overlooked, and that this may yet, (although 

 at present very difficult,) become a studied branch of horticulture. To a 

 certain extent the importance of fecundation has not been overlooked, and 

 the economy of sexual distinctions has been as clearly recognized in the vege- 

 table as in the animal kingdom, and between the two orders of organized life, 



