The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-03-14
agricultural department.
cowpucTtp BY ALBERT CHAPMAN
The Hybridization of Apples.


follows:
My DEAR Doctor with pleasure
1 comply with your request that l
should furnish you for publication prac-
tical directions for operating the hybri-
dization of apples; for 1 can very
heartily encourage experiments in this
direction.
For the very excellent fruits which
chance has already given us, from
union of the Siberian species with the
improved varieties of the species so
long cultivated, L have not the slightest
doubt but we may. by judicious hybri-
citation, and by careful selection, pos
sess ourselves of IA class of apples which
will combine the crispness of flesh and
tho richness of the Siberian with the
size and varied favors of our Green-
Ings Spys, Swarrs, etc. This mingling
OF the characters of the two speci IS pro-
duces results Of surprising excellence.
think have before remarked to you
that "Bailey's Crimson" which is the
issue of such union, is the richest and
most highly favored apple l ever last
ed.
so far, have only had in mind the
quality of these coming fruits, for
should want to cultivate them, III for
this reason alone, in the favored climate
of my valley, where all the best apples
succeed; but when ] add that these
new hybrids may be bred with a hardi-
ness that will endure the severity of the
winter Oh nearly every farm in YER
mont, the importance of the work Of
breeding them is made far more mani
fest,
1 have long been gratified by the at
tention which you are bestowing upon
improved and hybrid Siberians, and ]
wish earnestly TO urge you, now that
YOU possess such excellent facilities fol
carrying on the work, to apply yourself
to hybrldizing thoroughly and patient
ly. have myself, as you know, shown
my faith in the great good to come tc
bestowing considerable labor in this
direction but have so many different
plants under my hands, that l lack
time to deal with these as / should be
glal to see you do.
Your young trees just coming into
bearing, and standing in well cultivated
SOIL are very fit subjects for hybridiz
ing. Just before the central flowers Of
the clusters open their white or rosy
petals, you will select your flowers to
be operated upon, They should bt
strong ones-the central ones by pre-
ference and they should be favorably
situated on the branch for receiving the
most abundant nourshment. From
six to ten flowers, on large branch Of
small tree, are enough for your work
aud all the other flower buds should b'
carefully picked away, so that the ell
tire strength of the branch or tree may
be concentrated upon the development
of the few seeds which you impregnatt
artifcially. Now open the selected
flowers (the petals are not essential or
gans, and may be completely tori
away and carefully pick away every
stamen. These are found in a LITTLE
ring, Just within the base of the petals
and surrounding the centre of the flow
er. which consists of the stamens will
their anthers lat this tine curled down
wards into the central cavity of til,
flower. The instrument with which
you will best perform this delicate oper
alton, is a pair of very small pincers, a.
slender as humming-bird's bill, sucl
as an oculist uses in his work. Will,
removing tho stamens,you will need t.
exercise constant care not to injure TIN
pistils, a cluster Of five slender bodie
which arise from the center of tn,
flower, each of which consists of club
shaped stigma, borne on the summit o
q slender column, called the style. TIL
object Of removing the stamens is t.
prevent self-impregnation of the flow
err; and lest pollen brought from othe
blossoms, by wind or insects gets tn
start of you in fsrtilizing the pistils, til
prepared flowers must be enclosed il
little bags OF thin, close paper, draw
ever the blossoms and leaves ut thei
foot, and tied closely beneath Thorn.
You have probably prepared you
flowers from one to three days befor
their natural maturity and expansion
At the end of this time return to then
remove the bags cautiously, and yo
will find the stigmas to have lost thel
greenish tinge, and to be swollen an
visoid. Having provided yourself wit
flowers of the variety chosen for til
pollen parent-freshly opened flower
whose anthers have just burst in TIL
mornings sun aifi are loaded wit
foury pollen-with your pincers sei2
the stamens by their styles, and appl
their anthers upon tho stigmas. Ifthes
are ready for the pollen, showing I'll
slightly viscid condition ] have mel
toned, the pollen will adhere to then
and fertilization will quite certainl
follow. For two or three days long'
the envelopes should DO returned, an
when they are taken off little sacks
thin cloth-cheese sncking is preferrt
should take their places, to SHE
the fruits against attacks of birds or il
sects. and guard against their loss whe
mature.
The seed should be taken out befo
the decay of the fruit, and should
planted fresh in the fall, and proper
labeled. BY the second year, perhal
sooner, the young trees will furnish'
scions for grating or budding. Sever
sorts may thus be placed in the head
a single tree of bearing age. Wheth
their fruiting will be accelerated by til