10 
PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES. 
whose character is most permanent, impresses its form most for 
cibly on the offspring. 
The process of obtaining cross-bred 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, applying 
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 carefully, 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 fer- 
tilizing each other. The offspring in this case is called a hybrid, 
or mule, and does not always produce perfect seeds. “ This 
power of hybridising,” 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 being capable of any artificial union. Thus 
the' different species of Strawberry, of the gourd or melon family, 
intermix with the greatest facilit}-, there being a great accord- 
ance between them in general structure, and constitution. But 
no one has ever succeeded in compelling the pear to fertilize the 
apple, nor the gooseberry the currant. And as species that are 
very dissimilar appear to have some natural impediment which 
prevents their reciprocal fertilization, so does this obstacle, of 
whatever nature it may be, present an insuperable bar to the in- 
tercourse of the different genera. All the stories that are cur- 
rent as to the intermixture of oranges and pomegranates, of 
roses and black currants, and the like, may therefore be set 
down to pure invention.” 
In practice this power of improving varieties by crossing is 
very largely resorted to by gardeners at the present day. Not 
only in fruit trees, but in ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants, 
and especially in florists’ flowers, it has been carried to a great 
