The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-23

Country Gentleman
The question whether variety in plant growth
can be altered or improved by continued propa-
cation by means of cuttings, is one which in
wolves some other questions of Importance. The
change or improvement which may be effected
by propagation from seed is universally admit
ted as every plant thus produced may be re-
garded properly vew variety On the con-
trary the multiplication of individual plants as
Tor example the grape currant, by cuttin cs OF
layers, or OF the apple or pear by budding on
grating, Is only an extension in each case Of an
individual variety. The Baldwin apple and the
Bartlett pear have been continually and success
lively increased. and millions of trees of thess
varieties have been produced without any per-
manent change being effected in either The
Baldwin is the same fruit that il was
more than half century ago in
New England, notwithstanding the countless
multiphcations that have been made; and tha
Bartlett pear remains unchanged for more than
n century since it originated in Berkshire. in
England. The Maiden's Blush apple, since it
came from the New Jersey Seeding, nearly CEN
fury ago, mas been extensively grown in every
part of the Union, and is recommended by the
American Pathological Society in thirty States;
but with all the possible influences for a changes
in so wide propagation. it is still precisely the
same fruit that it was when it first bore on the
ground of Samuel Allison at Burlington
The aphorism that like produces like has
been repeated numberess times and properlv
applies to tie production of new varieties which
are strictly new individuals; but. the mistake is
often made of applying it to the extension of the
same variety. graf foot long VIII
not make a tree essentially taller than
one an inch long, or a single bud; or graft a
fourth of an i7ch in diameter will not give q
more vigorous tree than one only an eighth OF an
inch in diameter. Nurserymen have never been
able to raise finer trees. of larger growth or
bearing bigger apples, from large CRAFTS; nor
have they gained anything towards augmenting
the size of tree of its fruit by successive
use of evergreen cuttings Like has not pro-
duced like in such instances If such result
occurred, it is hard TO say what wonderful
achievements might have been made
The question here occurs, if fruits cannot be
thus improved by extending the same varieties.
Is 1t possible to make potatoes of the same va
rlety grow larger by continually choosing for
seed the largest tubers which can be found9
Has the Early Rose or the Beauty of Hebron
ever been swollen in dimensions by an operation
of this kindY And if they never have,
can these varieties be made smaller in size by
continually selecting small tubers for seed4 It
is true that smaller crops have generally mot al
ways) come from using small tubers, but this
unfavorabe result has mostly arisen from the
feebler start to the plants from smaller amount
of nutriment, or from the smaller tubers drying
up sooner in an arid soil. or from other external
causes.
This reasoning may be carried to selecting tho
grains from an ear of corn Each individual
stalk grown from separate grain of corn, is q
variety In itself. The broad grains on the base
of the ear, the full-siZed ones at the middle and
the smaller at the tip are all on the same
plant, and of the same variety. Hence it has
been found that the seeds from the different
parts of the ear when not under peculiar acct
dental inhuences) terminate as readily and grow
alike This has been the result of many expert
ments performed in different places. although, as
already stated, sometimes one and sometimes the
other under peculiar influences has had the start
The conditions would be different in planting
small grains from separate small ear wAicls
grew on a feeble and separate plant, the pro-
duct from such small grains being likely to par
same reason, sitting out the large grains from
the mass of seed-wheat would probably give tina
seeds from large and vigorous plants, and not
large grains on common plants.
The question for experiment. stations or fsra
those having them in charge who may feel inter
ested, is TO determine the various points con-
neetes with this subject performed with all ae-
cidental influences carefully excluded For ex-
ample, In experimenting with large aud small
potatoes for seed, the moisture, continuation,
and heat OF the SOIL should be such as
to give fair and equal chance: the cuttings
from grapevine should be successfully taken
from plant which ripens it's wood soonest and
IS therefore the hardest for enduring intense
cold. Attempts to change tie character of an
individual fruit should be made by continually
selecting some popularity. If, as is probable,
variety, it would be matter of value in cultiva-
ton to know this fact and prevent many
erroneous and existing practices.
On the other hand, improving the character OF
plant or tree, by successive reproductions irons
seed has its success and value fully established
by innumerable proofs in practice; and in con-
nection with the wide progress which may ba
made by crossing promises an immense field OF
interest and improvement before u.s.