The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-09-26
LOUIS 0. COWAN, Editor and Proprietor.

Of fruit Is merely part Of heproceSsi in the
organization ofa new being, separate anC
distinct from real vitality, containing only
its germ m the seed, which for its eIisteus'
and final results, Is as essentially the eiise
OF the union Of two parents as the genera
ton and birth Of an animal. II il be fact
that q continued breeding between the neal
family connections in animal life, tends t.
disease and impair the active vital functions
is il not to be presumed that the same re
suits will follow from continued in and in
breeding Of one branch, tbrother and sister,
If you please,) Of tho same family, in the
Reproduction Of any variety Of fruit troess
And does il not furnish satisfactory solu-
ton for the frequent destruction of our pear
trees. by what is termed the fire-blight? =? i
suggest this thought for your consideration.
HySridisat,on-The other system Of prac-
tlse is that Of hybridization. The crossing
Of different and remote connections OF the
same species, by removing the stamen', or
the male organ from the bloom OF one vari-
ETY., and fertiliring, or impresnating the
pistil., or fem .le organs, with the pollen oil
some other variety. This has very appro-
priately- been styled Knights theory, in
honor Of the eminent English pomOlogist,
and a horticulturist. who may be said to be
its author, lat least of 50 much as applies to
the pear This system. however, requi'es
the application Of more practical, scientific
skill, to ensure its success than the other.
1t is to 1t, however, in my judgement, that
we must look for the restoration OF the
hardness of the pear tree, to enable it to no
sist and successfully endure the vicissitudes
Of our climate. In it, we find the element
of control, not only over the quality OF the
fruit, but Of the hardness Of the tree. We
select and bring in contact the parents,
whose qualities we wish to combine. For
instance, we want to effect a cross OF the
SSckel, and throw the fine and excellent
qualities, and the hardness Of the tree, in
to the Barileii, or the Duchess d Angou-
iems.
To effect this, the stamen (Which contains
the impregua,ins element, or principle,)
must be removed from the bloom of the va
riety from which We wish to change, imine-
dately after it has expanded, and placed
upon the pis,il of the variety which we de-
sire to change. This operation is best Of
fectcd with pair of finely pointed scissors.
The stamens are distinguished from the
pistils, which are the female organs, by the
length they rise above them. In this opera
tion, the bloom should be held dovnwards,
to prevent the escape of the pollen, and fall
Ing on the pistils of the variety to bc i'm
prcgnated. This effected, without delay,
the pistils Of the variety to be operated up
,n, should at once be fertilized with the
natured pollen of the fully expanded Seckcl
bloom which, in this case, is father OF the
and we have good reason to be-
ieye that its character will b, mixed, and
perhaps predominate over the mother
Great care is necessary in the process of fer
.ilization, that it be not mixed, by the agen-
y of insects, and that the pollen of the
m III. -