PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 203 



SOME OBSERVED CHANGES IN FRUIT TYPES. 



By Fra:xk Femmoxs of Ahwahuee. 



In presenting the following observations that have reached over many 

 years of association with trees and plants. I wish to disclaim any scien- 

 tific attainment, or that they are entirely new to onr scientific horti- 

 culturists. They may all be but simple things as most of the operations 

 of nature are found to be when we once understand them; and, also, 

 valuable in our work in orchard or garden. 



I feel sure there are many operations in nature that contribute to 

 producing changes in plant life ; giving the plants their individual form 

 and character and to their fruits their peculiar color, texture and 

 flavors, often to the extent of producing new varieties, that are not as 

 yet fully understood. 



"We have learned something about crossing and hybridizing, but with 

 even our Burbank, the process is far from certain in its results. There 

 must be other natural influences that we know little or nothing about 

 that are constantly modifying the results of our best efforts. Some of 

 these, as that of heredity, we know something of. but as yet have little 

 power to modify. The influences of environment are more under our 

 control. But do we yet know all the elements and accidental combina- 

 tions that may have their influences in what we call environment or 

 local conditions, to modify plants or their fruits I In a rough way we 

 know many and can modify and control them, but I think we have 

 evidence in our every day practical experience and observations that 

 we have not mastered all. Where did the old Rambo. the White Win- 

 ter Pearmain, the Delicious, or any of our apples get their peculiar 

 flavors and characteristics ? It is easy to ask such and a thousand other 

 questions that will start some theory in the mind, but I am not able to 

 answer them. The facts of observation here referred to as illustrations, 

 are, I think, of a class that gives an evidence of some operations in 

 nature that are not entirely understood. Similar facts may not be new 

 or unheard of to our scientific people, but I have not seen them referred 

 to, not explained in our common horticultural literature. 



For five or six years past I have been watching a change that has 

 affected some Black Ben apples at Home Orchard. I wish to make the 

 statement of the observed facts as full and accurate as I can. 



In different parts of the orchard are many top-grafted trees of it. 

 and on many different varieties as stock. As it happened, several trees 

 regrafted were near some of the old Ben Davis of which Black Ben is 

 a seedling. The Black Ben has a solid red color, while the Ben Davis, as 

 every one knows, is prominently striped. The first year the new trees 

 immediately near by, or in the next row to the Ben Davis bore fruit. 

 I noticed that many of the apples were very noticeably striped. The 

 evident fact was a puzzle to me. and besides some of the fruit had its 

 typical color. The next year the change was more pronounced, and I 

 wrote something of it to a horticultural friend in the East. He thought 

 the only explanation of it was that "the scions used had been mixed." 

 That didn't satisfy me, and I have been watching it ever since. 



While at first the change was confined to the trees near the Ben 

 Davis (24 feet apart), it has extended out year by year until the past 

 season it was plainly noticeable five rows distant. Beyond that, and in 



