And this is done in each new variety by the same
method and according to the same laws. The richness of the cultivated
apples of the present day was already present in the large range of
original wild elementary species, though unobserved and requiring
improvement.
An interesting proof of this principle is afforded by the experience of
Mr. Peter M. Gideon, as related by Bailey. Gideon sowed large quantities
of apple-seeds, and one seed produced a new and valuable variety called
by him the "Wealthy" apple. He first planted a bushel of apple-seeds,
and then every year, for nine years, planted enough seeds to produce a
thousand trees. At the end of ten years all seedlings had perished
except one hardy seedling [79] crab. This experiment was made in
Minnesota, and failed wholly. Then he bought a small lot of seeds of
apples and crab-apples in Maine and from these the "Wealthy" came. There
were only about fifty seeds in the lot of crab-apple seed which produced
the "Wealthy," but before this variety was obtained, more than a bushel
of seed had been sown. Chance afforded a species with an unknown taste;
but the growing of many thousands of seedlings of known varieties was
not the best means to get something really new.
Pears are more difficult to improve than apples. They often require six
or more generations to be brought from the wild woody state to the
ordinary edible condition.
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