112 Reviews and Extracts. — llorlkuUnrc, kc. 
species. There is in nil beings a disposition to deviate from tlieir orig-iiuti nutiirc, 
when cultivated, or even in u wild state; but this disposition is so strong- in some, 
as to render thein particularly well adapted to become subject to domestication ; 
as for instance, the dog', the pigeon, and the J)arn-yard fowl, ure cases ia which 
this tendency is most strongly marked in animals ; and domesticated fruits are a 
parallel case in the vegetable world. 
"Without then, vainly endeavouring- to discover tite first cause of this disposition 
to form varieties, let us take it as a naked fact, that the disposition exists. Culti- 
vators increase this dis])03ition chiedy in two ways; — either by constantly selecting- 
the finest existing- varieties for seed, or by intermixing' the pollen and stiofnia of 
two varieties, for the purpos.; of procuring- something- of an intermediate nature. 
The ancients were unacquainted with either of those practices, and C(msequently , 
their gardens coiitained few lliiiigs which would now be deemed worthy of culti- 
vation. The power of obtaining cross-bred varieties at pleasure, has only existed 
since the discovery of sexes in plants; but as it exerts a most extensive influence 
over alterations in the voo-etahle kingdom, it niny be considered the most impor- 
tant contrjiing power that we possess. 
" In *■</(/'/'«_;■ 4' .'r.'fo for tin; purpose of procuring iuiproved varieties, care should 
be had, not onl} that the seeiis be taken from the finest existing kinds, but also 
that the most handsome, llie largest, and the most perfectly ripened specimens, 
should be those that supply the seed. 
"A seedling plant will always partake, more or less, of the character of its 
parent, (the qnalitiesof which are concentrated in the embryo,) when it has arrived 
at full maturity. How this concentralion takes place, we areas ignorant, as whj' 
certain constitutional peculiarities, are in men transferred from father to son, and 
from generation to generation : but we know that it does take place. Now if the 
general qualities of a given variety are concentrated in the embryo under any 
circumstances, it is reasonable to suppose that they will be most especially con- 
centrated in a seed t-.iken fron that part of a tree in which its peculiar good quali- 
ties reside in the highest degree. For instance, in the fruit of an apple growing 
upon a north wall, there is a smaller formation of sugar, than in the same variety 
growing upon a south wall ; and it can be easily m;derstood that the seed of that 
frtiit which is itself least capable of forming saccharine secretions, will acquire 
from its parent a less power of the same nature, than if it had been ibrmed within 
a fruit, in which the saccharine principle was abinidant. It should therefore be 
always an object with a gardener, in selecting a variety to become the parent of 
a new sort, to stimulate that variety by every means in his power, to produce the 
largest and most fully-ripened fruit tiiat it is capable of bearing The importance 
of doing this is well known in regard to melons and cucumbers, and also in pre- 
serving fugitive varieties of floweis; but it is not g-enerally practiced in raising 
fruit-trees." 
The information here given, should be uttentivoly considered by every gar- 
dener, who ■wishes to excel in raising valuable \'arieties of fniit. A fev>' addition- 
al observations of our own, -we conceive, would not he improperly introduced 
here. In the selection of sorts for producing new and improved varieties, 
great attention must be paid. All the apples raised from seed at Clydesdale, 
in Scotland, are peculiarly acid, and all kinds raised in Normindy, arc sweet. 
This is easily accounted for, by the respective situations in wliich they ar<' 
matured. Now, although it is necessary to ripen such fruits as are designed 
to be the parents of a new progeny, it -would be far from proper to choose both 
parents of the same degree of flavour, or similarity of appearance. A good 
Normandy apple impregnated with one from Clydesd^ile, would be far more 
