8 



THE PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES OF FRUIT. 



it out, for so you may have great varieties of fruits and flowers yet un- 

 known." 



In Figure 1 is shown the blossom of the Cherry. The central por- 

 tion, a, connected directly with the young fruit, is 

 a \ h the pistil. The numerous surrounding threads, b, are 



the stamens. The summit of the stamen is called the 

 anther, and secretes the powdery substance called pol- 

 len. The pistil has at its base the embryo fruit, and at 

 its summit the stigma. The use of the stamens is to 

 fertilize the young seed contained at the base of the 

 pistil ; and if we fertilize the pistil of one variety of 

 fruit by the pollen of another we shall obtain a new 

 variety, partaking intermediately of the qualities of both parents. Thus, 

 among fruits owing their origin directly to cross-breeding, Coe's Golden 

 Drop Plum was raised from the Green Gage, impregnated by the Magnum 

 Bonum or Egg Plum ; and the Elton cherry from the Bigarrieu, impreg- 

 nated by the White Heart.* Mr. Knight was of opinion that the habits 

 of the new variety would always be found to partake most strongly of the 

 constitution and habits of the female parent. Subsequent experience 

 does not fully confirm this, and it would appear that the parent whose 

 character is most permanent, impresses its form most forcibly on the 

 offspring. 



The process of obtaining cross-breed seeds of fruit-trees is very easily 

 performed. It is only necessary, when the tree blooms which we intend 

 to be the mother of the improved race, to select a blossom or blossoms 

 growing upon it not yet fully expanded. With a pair of scissors we cut 

 out and remove all the anthers. The next day, or as soon as the blossom 

 is quite expanded, we collect with a camel's-hair brush the pollen from 

 a fully blown flower of the variety we intend for the male parent, apply- 

 ing the pollen and leaving it upon the stigma or point of the pistil. If 

 your trees are much exposed to those busy little meddlers, the bees, it is 

 well to cover the blossoms with a loose bag of thin gauze, or they will 

 perhaps get beforehand with you in your experiments in cross-breeding. 

 Watch the blossoms closely as they open, and bear in mind that the two 

 essential points in the operation are : 1st, to extract the anthers care- 

 fully, before they have matured sufficiently to fertilize the pistil ; and 

 2d, to apply the pollen when it is in perfection (dry and powdery), and 

 while the stigma is moist. A very little practice will enable the amateur 

 to judge of these points. 



There are certain limits to the power of crossing plants. What is 

 strictly called a cross-bred plant or fruit is a sub-variety raised between 

 two varieties of the same species. There are, however, certain species, 

 nearly allied, which are capable of fertilizing each other. The offspring 

 in this case is called a hybrid, or mule, and does not always produce per- 

 fect seeds. " This power of hybridizing," says Dr. Lindley, " appears to 

 be much more common in plants than in animals. It is, however, in 

 general only between nearly allied species that this intercourse can take 

 place ; those which are widely different in structure and constitution not 



* The seedlings sometimes most resemble one parent, sometimes the other ; 

 but more frequently share the qualities of both. Mr. Coxe describes an Apple, a 

 cross between a Newtown Pippin and a Russet, the fruit of which resembled exter- 

 nally at one end the Russet and at the other the Pippin, and the flavor at either 

 end corresponded exactly with the character of the exterior. 



