The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-12-30
Psychological ART.
TRYING TO PRODUCE sEEDLEss AND
TaoRNLEss FRUIT.

TRYING TO PRODUCE sEEDLEss AND
T1ORNLEsS FRUIT.
Methods by Which Fruit Scientists Suc.
ceed In Improving Upou Nsture--Re.
suits Havo shown That They Are on the
Eight Dasts-sitss.t Success With Apples.
One Of the most important objects 20.
molosisis are striving for is TO produce
thornless and ssedless fruits, end from
the results already obtained it is not
unlikely that the end will soon be feal-
izsd. Seeds GRO not relished by the con-
sumera Of fruits and il they could be
removed we would enjoy cur grapes
without experiencing dread ct sppen.
dicitis and kindred complaints.
Thorrs are not in good standing
among fruit growers, because they are
constantly psncturirg the best fruits
and, what is equally important, the
akin Of the ptekers. The tt1crna and
priekles CT plazts and trees were u.,-
eoahtedly intended BY nature to rrotsct
them from animals, but that Ia no rea-
son why they should be continued for
generation after generation on tbs cal
tivased varieties The gardener has 70
Reed for them, and. fer that mattsr, the
trees aad shrahs have nene either.
Oar demonstrated peaks and apples
were all derived from the thorEy, wild
varieties, and pomologfats have succeed
ed in ridding them Of these spikes and
rrickles by careful oaHure and selsc-
tion. Oranges and lemons havs not
been cultivated in this country AZ nsc-
eesstally as pears sRd appleA and mary
of them are very thorny. The Wild ard
sour orange trees Of Florida are bris-
thing with thorns, az is also the high
priced king Grange, ono Of the best II
the mandarinA The wild lemon trses Of
Florida orc go skoeny that growers quas-
tion the adcisabality Of grating tho Ace
La France lemons on thoza.
In Florida, however, the thoTns Of
the orange aud lemon tses have been
greatly reduced by selecting bads from
branches with the fevest thorns, and
BY continuing this process year after
year the sharp spikes disappear. In Gal.
iforuia nearly all Of the Grange trees are
thornleas-nos naturally, bat as the re-
cult Of cultivation and selection.
The thorns on blackberries, raspber-
RES and rosebushes give the greatest
bother TO ho.tiou]suri8ts in the north,
and there is determined effort 10 get
rid Of them. The thorns give endless
trouble to the pickers, and their remov-
81 mighs save many pnneture to deli
cate hands There is an improved vsSie.
ty Ct raspbsrry placed on the market to
dey whish is entirely tkernlasa, but the
trouble Is that quality and quantity Of
fruit have been sacrificed to the gain
made in destroying the thorna
There is li.tIe doubt that perfect
thoynless hleckbsrries and raspberries
will soon be obtained, for there Is a
widespread movement among gardeners
and sesdssaen to accomplish this. The
man who is fortunate enough to produce
variety that gives perfect fruit with
out the thorns will receive pretty siifl
price fm his plants.
Seeds are also unnecessary plant prod.
uots in these advanced days Of horticul-
ture, when gardeners propagate ball
their stock ky cuttings, CRAFTS aad shpa.
Nature need 10 longer trouble herself
shout tho fear Of losing any Of her types.
The modern hertieulturist is sure II
preserve every one Of any value without
gathering seed.
The CALIFORNIA; navel Grange repre-.
senss the bass type Of fruit grown with.
out eeeds. Naaurs produced this orange
az freak at frst, and man has taken
advantage Of 1t 10 propagate fruit Of 6
high orde7. Half the oranges Of Cali
fornia are grated with tie navel, ant
it il the most important fruit Of ia,
Pacific coast. Nature tried 10 pruduot
twins in The navel orange, and one sur
yived only as pzotrberance Ia tn,
blossom end, while the other expanded
into we'll shaped fruit without seeds
These oranges are occasionally found
with small seeds; but, az rule. they
are perfectly saedless.
Several vesities of seedless apples ant
pears have already bean produced, bu'
the quality Of tbe fruit is generally poo
aud nearly worthless. They are sallet
"blccmlesa" pears and apples ana ~,
exhibited more az curiosities than ID III
triumphs Of genealogical ant. Esverths
less. they are the beginning Of new er,
Of apple growing, and they represent th'
primary stock of seedleas fruits whioi
may produce in time the finest davoret
apples and pears.
The craps industry would be benefit
ed more than any other by the p1oduc
ton Of new varieties without sseds, an,
toward sais end scores Of fruit grower
are working. especially In California
The idea is 10 produce not only tabl
grapes. but grapes that will make Al
raisins. Seedless raisins weuld prov
such boon to the whole ct<ih7ed werl
that any other variety world b quiokl
run out Of tho market.
There is seedless Grape Of Corinth
which commonly passes as curran'
and the Snltana raisins Of southeaster
Europe are also seedless. But thsa
fruits are 30 small that they can neve
answer the purpose. What the trad
wants is large ssedless grape, wit
perfect color and favor, and to get ths
it is necessary to experiment. for year!
New York Journal.
i 49,