The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-11-13

1rOIn the yer mature Vi ln0t.
ment are not usually men of sufficient
means to be Able to 60 into'the eli
mate required, and devote the neces-
sary years of time attending to such
enterprises. Indeed, it would be
well that any person who may be en-
ployed on such a labor, should be
freed from, all other cares, and be in
this way enable to lay aside all
thought of other business, In order
to devote his exclusive attention to
the work in hand in studying it out
more deliberately and carefully IN all
its intricacies and bearings. The
peculiar exigencies of this department
Of our agriculture would seem to de,
mand this. Such person would md
ample occupation for all the physical
and higher faculties OF which man is
capable of attaining. Carrying on a
commercial grape vine nursery In
these hard times, to my certain
knowledge, does not afford sufficient
time for such work. l would there
fore earnestly commend the subject
to the Commissioner of Agriculture,
for Washington is situated in the
region where these important expert
ments can be best conducted. The
several Southern agricultural univer-
sites endowed by the Agricultural
Act in the Southern States, should
also give careful attention to 80 inn
portant a subject. Moreover, pri-
waite indivi duasl in the region indi-
Gated, who are situated SO as to be
able to experiment, should by all
means do SO. There might be for
tune and fame in the first experiment,
with the consciousness of having been
OF use to the world thrown in.
It is a mistake to say that the
Scuppernong will not live in the
North, as we have all repeatedly been
told. Though residing in the forty
fourth parallel of latitude, have
three vines, set out three years ago
protected by slight covering of
earth during the winter, just as other
vines are protected in this climate.
They are making a rather slow growth
but seem healthy. 1 am not entirely
without hope that l may be able to
utilize the roots by grating to obtain
root-power, although disappointed in
my first intention, which was to util-
ize them to obtain pollen for hybridi-
ling. The difference in climate, how
4l..y.s4s.a Al.is tlssA1r4
blossom, entirely too late for hybrid
izinS, but during the coming spring
the attempt will be made to graft
them. Pollen sent from the South
next spring could be used, and if some
horticultural friend will send this, /
shall be duly thankful.
There is some uncertainty but it
may turn out that all the benefits can
be obtained from root-power. 1t is
fortunate circumstance that this
power Of grating can be utilized in
these operations; for it is far greater,
more potent, and more under control
than any power in the hands of the
breeder Of domestic animals. The
horticulturist is enabled to take short
cuts towards final results; the breed,
err, with but two individual animals
at time, must work for generations
through the sexual functions aud
ameliorating circumstances of food
and climate. IF be could dissect the
osseous structure and the form of the
best of the Short Horns, splice into
it the viscera Of an Ayrshire, add the
Tactical organs of the Jersey, and
breed from such al imaginary animal,
it would be omeAling like what the
horticulturist is en- bled to accomplish
through the means of grating and
hybridizing.-D. IS. Mmvi'', az Rst-
raj Nec Yorker
Jefferson Courty, N, Y.
Any readers Iho have not seen
Mr.. Marvin's torrier articles, which
we deem of nun Importance, and
who desire to c|htinue the subject
are referred to It'd RwM Neac York
er, of April Is I'll sJune 90, last
Eds.