Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-08-05
NEWPORT, SATURDAY, AUG. 5, 1871.

i'll effects of too close or long continued in
terbreeding, even among plants, and hints ut
good results to follow from crossing. The
origination of new forms is not the only good
result, but increased vigor is often secured
by this means for these new forms. An
drew Knight believed that his seedlings from
crossed varieties of the apple exhibited in
creased vigor and luXuriance, and NJ. Chew
reul alludes to the extreme vigor of some OF
the crossed fruit thus raised by Sageret. y
"Wigman made many crosses between sew
eral varieties of cabbage; and he speaks with
aStonshment of the vigor and height of the
mangolds, which existed to the amazement
of all gardeners who beheld them" Mr.
Manuel exhibited before the Royal Agricul-
tural Society specimens of crossed wheat,
together with their purest varieties; and the
editor states that they were intermediate in
character, united with that greater vigor OF
growth which it appears, in the vegetable as
in the animal world, is the result of II first
cross" DARWIN, Variation III l60. llybridi-
zition enables us to acclimate tender foreign
plants, or rather to appropriate to ourselves
the excellent qualities they possess by incor-
porating them with our hardier native plants
So Mr.. Rogers and others supplied to the
harsh grapes of our woods much of the deli
cacy and fine flavor of the best foreign kinds
To perform the operation of crossing, one
needs II good magnifying glass, one which
viii distinctly reveal the grains " pollen.
find the little one called Grny's Botanical
Microscope quite efficient Fine brushes are
recommended and much used, but ! find
can lodge more pollen upon the stigma by
other means. | always prefer to apply Il
bursting anther, abundantly charged with
pollen, directly to the stigma by means oi
pincers. These pincers are as slender as Il
humming birds bill, and furnished witt
springs so us to open of themselves. They
are made after French model, called there
IA 6ureHe. A good supply of little sacks made
of fine, close paper to be used to enclose the
situated, and shield it from the approach o
insects or pollen floating in the air, is needed
and other similar sacks of gauze or loose
muslin are often useful to protect the frui
from insects or birds, and preserve the seet
when it falls. Such sacks may enclose /;
fruit or carpet, even ifaccompaniedb by leaves
the whole season through without any injury
They freely admit light, moisture and nil
sufficient for the fullest development of the
fruit and leaves.
Ono must choose his subjects with care
Not only must they possess characters desir
able to combine in the offspring, but the,
must be in IL condition of the highest healtl
and vigor. | will quote from Prof Lecoy
French writer on hybridization: 1t is o
the highest Importance" says he, to choose
with care the secd-bearer and the fertiizin.
plant. IN general the product resembles
both, but | have remarked in II great number
of crosses operated by myself with ever,
possible care, that hybrids resemble the seed
bearer or mother more than their father
So, then, when one operates on fruits or veg
etables, or on plants of ornament, the frs
care should be exercised upon the moth
cr. However, one cannot always choose
freely, because it may be that the va
riety preferred does not readily yield seed
and he may he forced to choose another. Ii
every case the choice must not be light.
made, and nothing should be left to chance
The choice of the father requires the sam'
attentions, and when one has learned how
to match plants whose good qualities ant
whose faults can blend, can oppose or cal
modify each other, he has already accom-
plshcd good part of the work. If, for ex
ample, one wishes to improve IN early fruit
he must fertilize it with better variety
whose time of maturity approaches MS nea