Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-12

ply of bulbs which are used for tho
supplying of the local markets.
'1ncidentally,'' said Mr.. Merric,, "do
you realize that new varieties of fruit
arc constantly being produced and mt
upon the market? Mr.. Burbank of
California, one of the chief of o,,r
itufseryman, has been producing some
wonderful results. The government
voted MN the annual sum of $4,000 in
croer that he might devote the whole
OF ms time to the business Of produce
ing new species of fruits. and this be-
cause q the results of his work are of
measurable value to the agricultural
population of the United States. He
IS at work constantly upon his ey-
pHrimentS, and every now and then he
gives something to the nurserymen and
market gardeners of the country
something that they have never had
before, a new species, and a good one.
How is 4 now variety produced?
Through the combination of two old
ones. But the exact manner in which
the now species is brought to light is
a mystery TO most of us. Neverthe-
less, it is a subject of unlimited inter-
est, offering opportunity for an amount
OF fascinating experimental work The
seeds are first planted and allowed to
come up ana become seedlings of
GOCdly size. Two of these are then
taken, each Of Il different specie. They
are then grated together. allowed to
mature, and the fruit that the COM
hinatinn bears is carefully tested. 1t
may be far superior to that Of either
Of the first two varieties. or may be
vastly inferior. Thus it becomes 4
matter Of ceaseloss experiment. and
there is Il great deal of chance in it
also. Not only is flavor considered
Lut odor, size, color, form and amount
that is produced. An apple for OK
ample might by grating Of two ap-
pie stocks. be improved in flavor but
rendered inferior in size and color to
the originals. Then the grower con-
sidcrs that he has met with partial
failure. Or on the other hand. it
may excel the others in size. form and
color. but lack the flavor of either Of
them. He must then experiment in an
endless round until. part by part. he
attains the whole object for which he
strives-a perfect fruit. or fruit more
perfect than anything hitherto pro-
duced.
"Of course" said the speaker. 'the |
exporimenter's work is not done wholly
in the dark. He has come to know |
which stock is most likely to give |
sweetness which will give tartness. |
which is most likely to give the re-
sultant fruit q red or yellow color, |
which will most certainly give 1t tho |
size he wishes, which will make most !
surely for a pefection of form. And |
then, with these factors. he proceeds tn |
result Of the experiments Of the great |
growers has been the seedless apple, |
a novelty which will be widely grown |
and greatly appreciated. A stoneloss
they arc now contcnding, vet its pro-
duction is not at all an impossibility.
'In tho realm Of flowers" concluded |
tho speaker "therc is also great ac-
tivity. Over 1000 different varieties
have been produced. and these form a
comparatively small number of those
already produced at the start The
shape. size and color has been gradual
" modified 50 that the few original
Srecics have been made to yield ar
endless variety This production. one
may almost call il creation of the new
and novel. goes on constantly. and
Just what it will give US cannot be
forctold. We are not to be surprised
at anything"