THE PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES OF FRUIT. 



3 



tion, be stimulated into a more luxuriant growth ; it will probably pro- 

 duce larger leaves and fruit ; but we shall neither alter its fruit in tex- 

 ture, color, or taste. It will always be identically the same. 



The process of amelioration begins with a new generation, and by 

 sowing the seeds. Some species of tree, indeed, seem to refuse to yield 

 their wild nature, never producing any variation by seed ; but all fruit- 

 trees, and many others, are easily domesticated, and more readily take 

 the impress of culture. 



If we sow a quantity of seed in garden soil of the common black 

 mazard cherry ( Gerasus avium), we shall find that, in the leaves and 

 habit of growth, many of the seedlings do not entirely resemble the 

 original species. When they come into bearing, it is probable we shall 

 also find as great a diversity in the size, color, and flavor of the fruit. 

 Each of these individual plants differing from the original type (the 

 mazard) constitutes a new variety; though only a few, perhaps only 

 one, may be superior to the original species. 



It is worthy of remark, that exactly in proportion as this reproduc- 

 tion is frequently repeated, is the change to a great variety of forms or 

 new sorts increased. It is likely, indeed, that to gather the seeds from 

 a wild mazard in the woods, the instances of departure from the form 

 of the original species would be very few ; while if gathered from a gar- 

 den tree, itself some time cultivated, or several removes from a wild state, 

 though still a mazard, the seedlings will show great variety of character. 



Once in the possession of a variety which has moved out of the nat- 

 ural into a more domesticated form, we have in our hands the best ma- 

 terial for the improving process. The fixed original habit of the species 

 is broken in upon, and this variety which we have created has always 

 afterwards some tendency to make further departures from the original 

 form. It is true that all or most of its seedlings will still retain a like- 

 ness to the parent, but a few will differ in some respects, and it is by 

 seizing upon those which show symptoms of variation that the impro- 

 ver of vegetable races founds his hopes. 



"We have said that it is a part of the character of a species to produce 

 the same from seed. This characteristic is retained even where the 

 sport (as gardeners term it) into numberless varieties is greatest. Thus, 

 to return to cherries : the Kentish or common pie-cherry is one species, 

 and the small black mazard another, and although a great number of 

 varieties of each of these species have been produced, yet there is always 

 the likeness of the species retained. From the first we may have the 

 large and rich Mayduke, and from the last the sweet and luscious Black- 

 Hearts ; but a glance will show us that the duke cherries retain the dis- 

 tinct dark foliage, and, in the fruit, something of the same flavor, shape, 

 and color of the original species ; and the heart cherries the broad leaves 

 and lofty growth of the mazard. So too the currant and gooseberry are 

 different species of the same genus ; but though the English gooseberry- 

 growers have raised thousands of new varieties of this fruit, and shown 

 them as large as hens' eggs, and of every variety of form and color, yet 

 their efforts with the gooseberry have not produced anything resembling 

 the common currant. 



Why do not varieties produce the same from seed ? Why, if we plant 

 the stone of a Green Gage plum, will it not always produce a Green 

 Gage ? This is often a puzzling question to the practical gardener, while 

 his every-day experience forces him to assent to the fact. 



