The Florida agriculturist., 1884-06-25
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER /.
ART IN.-TheoTics respecting regetoble
reprodUction-Coro Conclusion.
These experiments, facts, and analo-
gies taken as whole, necessarily give
rise to principles which form so many
theories in the system Of vegetable re-
production.
/. Nature has created the genera which
form so many families distinguished from
each other by peculiar marks.
2. Nature has created the species also
which form so many branches in these
families to which they belong Oh account
of common characteristics.
,. The mixture of these species in the
union of the sexes has given rise to hy-
brids.
4. The mixture and proportion of the
productive principles OF several individ-
uals of the same species have produced
the varieties.
5. The irregular and forced action of
one principle upon the other in the act
of formulation, either in the same or in
different species, has given rise to mon.
strosities.
6. The varieties are, therefore, due
only to the seed.
Z. The seed originates equally the va
rieties called choice and those growing
wild.
s. Cultivation has destined the first
to furnish the graft and the second to
bear it.
9. The graft and slip only can perpet-
uate these varieties in their natural con-
dition.
10. The seeds of these varieties are
also submitted to the influence of fecun-
6afIn1a and en- hionf 10
by it, sometimes better, sometimes in
ferior, in quality. 1t gives type when
the fecundation takes place according tn
the laws OF nature.
IL. Monstrosities reindividuals whose
organization has undergone an alteration
by the fact of fecundation. 81
u. If this alteration occurs in the
ovary the monstrosity is in the fruit
which results from it and perishes with
it. If this alteration be in the ovules,
the monstrosity is in the germ, and this
germ sown produces a variety which
bears only monsters. 5f - - u 3
l3. Every monstrosity regularly is
sterile either from the nature of the
flowers which are without sex, or whose
sexual parts become petals, or by the
nature of the fruit which has no seeds.
1t must be multiplied by the graft or
slip.
COr0tlary I.-7The species from many
branches in the families known assgene-
ra, and to whish they belong by eommoni
ties or characteristics these are distin-
guished from each other by peculiar
marks or features. - II
These features or characteristics are
constant and distinguish the type from
the varieties. The types are always
fruitful. They are reproduced by their
seeds unless these seeds are modified by
the seeds of the varieties.
Thus the seed-beds offer the surest
means of distinguishing the species from
the varieties.
Every tree which is perpetuated by
descent and preserves its forms, charac-
teristics, and properties is type. 1t can
undergo no change except by fe-
cundation; but those changes which are
made in the germ do not extend to the
reproductive principle. The sexes dis
appear in these individuals, or pass intact
through the notifications of the flowers
principles of the type. Among peaches
the cling-stone, and the nectarine peach.
Among cherries have verified two, the
white-heart cherry, and the round or
black cherry. l have data which leads
me-to suspect that there ista third type.
l have not yet determined the types, of
the apricot, the apple or the pear. My
experiences are not yet sufficiently
advanced respecting these species. l
have, however, determined to a certain
ty that the Citrus has but four species.
Corolory 1.-THE blending of species
in the reunion of sexes has given rise to
hybrids. 1919
The hybrid partakes of the character
istics of the two species of which it is
composed. Thus its exterior physiogmy
reveals it's origin. 1t has a tendency to
sterility. The hybrid presents phenom-
ena which are very singular. The mix
ture sometimes affects the substance of
the vegetable, and we have then amixed
fruit whose forms are constant, but
which is generally unfruitful. Such are
the the poncire, the double mixed pink,
and the double fowered ranunculus.
At other times the mixture seems to be,
as it were, wandering in the vegetable,
and then it affects isolated parts of the
plant capriciously, and disappears some