8 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
SEPTEMBER: 1, 1905 
HOoORTICULTUORE. 
(armen 
(KE cull the following from the “ Experi- 
x, ment Station Record,’ published in 
Washington, U.S.A.:— 
Grafting. 
Jn an experiment to determine the reciprocal 
action of scion and stock, scions of Yellow 
Transparent apple were inserted into branches 
of the wild crab. After fruit spurs were 
formed onthe Yellow Transparent scion, all the 
Jeaves from the scion were removed so that all 
the sap was elaborated by the leaves of the wild 
crab. ‘“ At the same time a scion of the same 
Yellow Transparent tree was inserted into a 
twig of the same branch and allowed to form its 
own leaves.” The fruit produced on the scions 
thus treated was practically alike in size, color, 
and flavor, and in both instances the fruit was 
clearly Yellow Transparent, 
Experiments in grafting apple on whole or 
piece roots have now been under way at the 
station for a number of years. Some of the trees 
have borne fruit. Up to the present time it is 
dificult to detect any difference in the size of 
the different trees treated. It seems to be prac- 
tically settled that each variety will form its 
own root system 1egardless of ihe length of root 
used as a starter. 
Best Yields of Apples. 
The average yields of a number of varieties 
of apples for two years indicate the varieties 
Wealthy, Yellow Transparent, Okabena, Hiber- 
nal, and Duchess,in the order named, as the 
heaviest yielders. Orchard experiments at the 
station indicates that trees should not ke set 
closer than 20 ft. apazt in that region. 
Some {Experiments of Luther Burbank 
(By D. S. Jordan.) 
An excellent acccunt is given of a large 
number of flowev, fruit, nut, grass, and grain 
creations of Luther Burbank, during recent 
years, with extensive notes on Mr Barbenk’s 
views concerning the methods and philsophy of 
‘hybridizing. 
_ Mr Purbank kelicves that “mutations can 
be produced at will by any of the various means 
which disturb the habits of the plant.” Varia- 
tions can usually be fixed in five or six genera- 
tions and sometimes at once. “ There is no 
evidence of any limit in the prodnction of yaria- 
tion through artificial selection, especially if 
_ preceded by crossing. . By crossing differ- 
ent specics we can form more variations and 
mutations in six generations than will te deve- 
loped Ly ordinary variation in a huudred or even 
a thousand generations.” 
The evolution of species is largely dependent 
on crcssiug the variations contained within it, 
Foims too closely bred soon run out, because 
- generally only by crossing does variation appear. 
It is of great advantage to have the parents a 
certain distance apart in their hereditary ten- 
dencies. If tco close together, there is not range 
enough of variety. If too apart, the developed 
forms are unfitted for existence, because too 
unstable. Correlated changes work together to 
preduce the effect of mutations. Radical 
changes of environment for a series of genera- 
tions will prcduce a tendcucy to sport, but 
hybridisation will bring it about far more 
abruptly, and for practical plant or animal 
krecding or for scientific study of all these 
variations, far move satisfactorily. : 
= Mr Buibank has prcduced a numler of 
species ky Lybridisaticn which he kelieves to ke 
as gcod as nature itself has prccuced. It is 
asserted that there isa clcse analcgy keiween 
hyliidisaticn ard grafting. An instance is 
_eitcd in which Prunus myrolalana yar. pissaidi 
was imported from France and grafted on the 
Kelsey plum, a variety of Prunus triflora. The 
graft did not bloom; but its presence on the 
tree brought about a cross between the two 
species. Many hundred descendants of this 
cross are now living. 
In one sense hybridisation is believed to be 
only a mode of grafting. A diagram is given 
showing the zone of life and parallelism of 
resnlts in crossing and grafting. Mendel’s law 
which holds good for the tribe of peas has not 
been found to be generally true so far as Mr 
Burbank’s experiments go. 
_The results of crossing are sometimes very 
simple, and at other times are so complicated 
that to follow them requires the highest skill, 
and even then may be utterly impossible. 
An instance is cited in which a Siberian Ru- 
bus (R. crateegifolius) was crcssed with a Cali- 
fornia blackberry (R. vitifolius). Some of the 
hybrids obtained combine the best qualities of 
both fruits,and out of over five thousand sécond 
generation seedling every one has proved true to 
seed. A hybrid red poppy was obtained by 
uniting the opium poppy with the oriental 
poppy. The second generation hybrids thus 
obtained all prove perennials, and blossom every 
day in the year, while the parents are annuals 
and blossom only for a few weeks. The hybrid 
poppy produces no seed. New spineless cacti 
for stock-feeding purposes have been secured by 
crossing together five species of Opuntia. 
Tt is stated that crosses are sometimes more 
vigorous than their parent, and at other times 
the reverse is true. A peach-almond cross is 
cited, in which the hybrid produced a tree ten 
times as large as either parent of the same age. 
Heredity. 
Heredity is defined “as the sum of all the 
effects of all the environments of all the past 
generations on the responsive ever-moving life 
forces.” Crossing is stated as the grand principal 
cause of all the species and varieties of earth, 
sea and air. Relative to the formation of 
acquired characters, the author states that 
“similar environments produce similar results 
on the life forces, even with the most distantly 
related plants or animals. This factalone should 
be proof enough, if proof were still needed, that 
acquired characters are transmitted.” 
The parallelism of grafting and hybridising 
is pointed out. “Grafting or budding may be 
called a bio-mechanico-chemical combination, 
While crossing hy seed is more of a bio chemical 
union, yet this last union is often more truly 
mechanical than chemical as is the case of a 
mosaic union, which is not unusual when the 
cross is too abrupt. In fact every gradation from 
a purely mechanical union to one of perfect 
chemical blend is a common every day occur- 
rence with those who have carried out field 
experiments on a broad and comprehensive 
scale.”” 
Tomatoes. 
In some tomato forcing experiments a test 
was made of the relative value of sub v surface 
irrigation, and also garden soil v light sand. 
The three varieties, Burpee Combination, Suc- 
cess and Stone were used. The results obtained 
are given in condensed form. The heaviest 
yields in every case but one was produced by 
sub-irrigation. The variety Combination pro- 
duced more fruits by surface irrigation, but the 
ayerage weight was less than by subirrigation. 
The yield in sand was less in every case and 
the weight below those in garden soil. Fruit 
ripened about a week earlier on the surface irri- 
gated plats than on the suk-irrigated plats. 
The variety Success was pollenised with 
pollen obtained frcm itself and frcm Ccmbina- 
ticn ard frcm Stcne. The yield of Success when 
pollknised by itself wes 167 fruits; when rol- 
Kcnised Ly Ccmbination 149 fruits, and when 
teeeee 
pollenised by Stone 196 fruits. The fruits were: 
of practically equal size in all cases. The results. 
indicated that success in tomato forcing may be 
governed to a considerable extent by the variety 
of pollen used in cross fertilisation. 
Experiments with Vegetables at Montana 
Lima beans have uniformly failed at the 
station. The yields of 44 varieties of bush 
beans arerecorded. The heaviest yielding varie- 
ties in order were White Seeded Wax, Davis 
Wax, and Long Yellow Six Weeks. Succession 
has proved the best early variety of cabbage, 
ana Late Stonehead and Danish Round Head 
the’ best late varieties. With cauliflower, the 
Best Early variety was ready for use about one 
week before Dry Weather. Early White Cob 
has proved the best variety of sweet corn tested 
at the station. It matured a full crop, while 
Cosmopolitan matured about 30 per cent of a. 
full crop. With beets, Improved Blood Turnip. 
gave the earliest and Jargest yield of a number of 
varieties tested. Thorburn New Everbearing: 
was the earliist and best pickling cucumber 
grown. 
Onions in Montana. 
A test of transplanted v field-sown onions. 
showed an average yield of 13,939 lbs per acre- 
for the field-sown onions, and 32,334 lbs per 
acre for the transplanted onions. The author is 
of the opinion that it does not take any more: 
laber to transplant seedlings from a flat or hot- 
bed than it does to plant thin field sown plants. 
The yields obtained with a number of varieties. 
of onions are tabulated. Twelve varieties of 
tomatoes were grown. The station experiments 
with this crop indicate that the most ripe fruits. 
can be obtained by planting on moderately 
heavy clay soil. By frequent cultivation and 
the use of plenty of water early in the season,. 
the plants can be forced into early growth, and 
by the withdrawing of these later in the season 
the fruits can be induced to mature earlier than. 
they otherwise would. 
Foreing Beans. (By ©. A. Vailejo ) 
The results are given of experiments of 
growing beans under glass. The author con- 
siders that there is no advantage in starting 
beans in pots, as is often advised. It is rather a 
waste of time aid labor. Better results were 
secured when beans were planted in hills about 
1 fi. apart each way, than when planted about 
3 in. apart in drills 30 in. apart. Much better 
results were secured when they were thinned to. 
stand 18 in. apart in the row than when they 
were left unthinned. 
The yield ef beans increased about three 
times by the use of complete commercial ferti- 
lisers. ‘Two varieties of beans were grown, Ne- 
Plus Ultra and Golden Eyed Wax, the formed 
of which was much the more productive. To- 
bacco smoke used for fumigation was found te 
seriously injure the plants. The white fly 
(Aleurcdes yaporium) was easily controlled by 
fumigating with hydrocyanic-acid gas, using 10° 
oz. of potassium cyanid for about 6,000 cu. ft. or 
space. It is believed that nothing is gained by- 
giviug the plants too much heat, for while they 
come to maturity a little earlier the yield is 
much less than where the temperature is lower. 
About 50 to60 degrees F. at night and 70 degrees, 
F. in the day time are believed to be about. 
the right temperatures. 
Forcing Tomatoes. (By W,J. Green and 0. W 
_Waid, Ohio Station). 
The station has not found it profitable to grow 
a crop of tomatoes in mid-winter in Ohio. The- 
Price which can be obtained for them are not 
igh enough, and the quantity that can be dis- 
posed of is too limited. The crop has proved 
prcfixable, however, as a spring and early sum-— 
