Plants as Modified by Man.Ever since science overthrew the idea of spontane: generation and established beyond doubt that no organisn Gould have existence without a parent cell, the sciontific world received a thundervolt which was to be means of its first great, awakening. And as the message was heralded fro one to another it arroused more careful investigation, stimu- lated advanced thought and opened up a new line of possibil— ities respecting the whole plant kingdom. Man aia not grope as hitherto in the dark trusting to uncertainness but from a m ntific basis. This was the dawn of a new cra from now henesforth man was not simply to assist nature in producing endless varitios, but bo the actual progenitor of new creations. I need only refer you to the excellent work of L. Burbank of Santa Rosa,California,to substantiate this statement. It is a well known fa at plants kept on the same soil subject to the same environment for ome in Vitality ana less valuable for eco 3 again, na— ture did not perfect hor fruits and flowers to stiit the fas— tddious taste of man but left this for hin to do,and now he is oxercising that right to a degree that was never dreamed of a few years ago. The casual observer regards us as usurping more privi— leges than belong to ts, but not so, just as the Chemist takes original elements or compounds, breaks up their combination or Combines them into various proportions to suit his pur— pose, so we are at liberty to do the same with our plants and without violating nature’s laws in the least. However, nature refuses to indulge man only just so far in his modifications of both plants and animals a3 we find hyvrids in either case as a rule are sterile. ‘ While a few have worked only froi anipoint of curi~ osity and the enrichment of seiehco, tho groatest work nas been called forth from an economic standpoint. Extensive cultivation has taught to the horticulturist, farmer and flor ist just how to secure larger returns from a particular soil and a given surface than heretofore ;4t has done even mor than this, xy carefully selecting, cross fertilizing and cul- tivation we have been able to double, triple and even quad— Tuplo desirable qualities we wish to porpetuate in our choice fruits and flowers Man is simply nature’s agent or omployee to assist her in her work, hence the more careful and scientific the man is the more valuable he is as an ald to nature in carrying out her plans methodically, instead of at random as is the case when left, to herself to perform the work. Darwin gives a great. many fisting illustrations of howa does it,a fow of which T will consider br: tho first, place wo find that nature distributes her plants ih a way favorable to cross-fortilization” and not only does this mixing and crowding together of species do this, but it doubtless encourages tho survival of the fittest. Nature seldom transplants her trees, rarely grafts and never buds. Upon examination of the roots of many of our forest trees we find a long straight tap root, which goes di- rectly downward which of necessity must be broken if trans- planted, this gives the plant a shock from which it never thoroughly revives,and if this be practiced from generation to generation the result will be a whole race of plants much lower in vitality than the original unmolested stock. Some of our most eminent horticulturists deem the art of budding and grafting a curse rather than a blessing to horticulture, owing So the use of uncongendal stock ;while many of our fruits and shrubs will unite with a great variety of stocks they do not make congenial hosts; Jhence,a weak short-lived plant is the result,4.c.in commereial circles certain stocks are used such as the Myrovolan for grafting the whole plum family upon, now this 16 not a congenial stock for certain members of this group. Ache in natural conditions tends to weaken our own plants. Man performs nis work too suddenly,nature builds up her work slowly,man secks to bring about ‘he same results in one-half the idine and as a result we invariably of plants low in vitality, susceptible to the attack of fun— gus discases and early decay. er way of reducing vitality is monstrosities, the highest ultimatum of the of nature is Lo produce seed,much pulp to her is waste and nowhore do we find her expending her forces upon waste mate- rial. Man is just the opposite,he wants much pulp. Nature ids ready to accomodate him in this but at the exponso of some other function of the plant,usually the production of sood. Scientific research has taught us that everything in nature tends to strike an equiliurium,henee we are at. liber- ty to shift certain forces here and there vine certain forces but at the expense of these deductions were made. Experience has also taught us that the removal of trees from forestry conditions upon high, dry and arja regions is too sudden a change for shom and honce a weak plant 4s the result. It will be of interest here some of the morphological characters of secds and semmination. Nature calls into service many ai sist her In scattering her seed ;such as the wind, the waters and various forma of animal life. Many sceds 11Ke she dan— deldon, lactuca, cottonwood, ete.have long plumose appende that fit the seed for bedng buoyed up uy Lhe wind and car- ried long distano Some are fitted for enduring salt wa y days,o are provided with hooks and barbs that, eling to whatever object they may come in contact with and are in this way scatlered far and near. t411 seem to require the action of the gastric juices of stomach, and the only way that man has been in any degree successful natdng such seed is to imitate rly as possivie.It 1s also well established that naturo’s plants are increasea in size ana vigor by varied environments. There are many other illustrasions of intorest that might be men— toned, but, I trust these are enough to rertray that thought in view. Summarizing these fow remarks we might add, “That naiure’s methods are favorable to natural crossing, natural selection and exact climatic adaptation.” In man’s manipulation the one thing sought for is puri— wy of stook in fruits and flowe Jmormal in size which we can readily sce is a violation to nature’s laws and hence must ve done at the expense of vitality ;such plants will survive and do well for a few years, but finally will succumb Jo the inevitable,and then are compelled to go back to some primitive form for a starting point agadr his explains why the sood and plant catalogues are flooded every year with now varities of sterling merit. Every farmer, horticulturist and florist should know the few simple facts concerning atavism, reversion and sports (no! a scrious task, however, )then he would not only be able to work intelligently but greatly prolong the life, size and the vigor of his choice fruits and flowers and possibly be able to build them up to a higher degree of perfection. ir. Burbank, of California, is, doubtless, on the right wack to the greatest revolutdon that horsiculture has ever known, he has certainly unearthed many goms from the mysteri~ ous realms of nature, hitherto unknown ;he has rade a great number of successful crosses,a few of ‘he most remarkable we append as follows k Almond. Chickasaw plum X Jap. plum. Japanese plum. Apricot X Peach. Chickasaw Plum. dapanose plum X Peach. Foach X Apricot, dapanese plum X Ghickasaw. Almond X Peach. Yyrobolan X Japanese plum. Almoha X Japanese plum. Domestic X Wild goose plum. Apricot X dapanese Plun Common Appice. Prunus Japonic wince. X Crab apple. Chinese quince x common quince. % apple. Fyrus Japonica x Chinese Quince. Quince X Appie. Japanese Quince X Apple. Ghinese Quince X Apple. Potato X Tomato. omé of these crosses are very remarkaule,as you seo,and are doubtless new creations. me need not go to Europe, Asia, California and remote parts of the earth to find remarkable crosses and astonish ing results,as our own College grounds furnish some yery striking examples of what we have done and are doing in th way of Gyolution. This work has beon in progress for a num ber of years, bu: owing to the difficulty unaer which much of the work has veen performed the results are as yet unknow The work here on the ground has veen promoted by two main objects, first the developmont of the science from ar illustrative standpoint and second the possibility of buila— ing up a class of fruits and shrubs adapted to the sodl and climate of the whole north and northwest which we are sadly in need of, owing to ‘he ever increasing population and the growing demand for superior fruits and flowers. In this lino of fruits some very intcresting work has been done onplum, of which I shall make @ brief monton. Of the first group,tree No.4 is a cross betwoon tho besoto and tho Japanese plum ; the Desoto, of course, being jhe true American type. In leaf we have neither thé Japan hor the Americana, but a combination of the two, the leaf is much thicker and Gloser in coll structure with not voining on the upper surface like the Japan,and the under surfac like the Americana, serrations like neither. In bud 4b 4! like both, being double and triple. It evidently endures a drouth well as 1t has scomeda to thrive during this most ro- markable season on record during the civilized history of our country. Yellow leaves begin to show early in September indicating determinate growih (which 1s an indispensible ro- quisite of a hardy plant of any description) showing, of course, that, the elaboration of starch and ripening of the wood was comple The shape of the tree is all that could be desired, being rather upright in habit with Lhe limbs suf- Piciontiy spreading to ariate the fruit. ‘The limbs are very strong ana capable of supporting as At as can han, upon them. ‘The color of the bark is. a as, bub resembles that of the Americana more free No. 5 of the same cross shows bo x na and Japan ouds,also the color and peculdar spotting of the bark is distinctly Japen,tho leaves are fully one-third larger than those of Americana with serrations 14k Japan ture, thick and leathery. Yenation same as N ds good in habit being very large and spreading gan inmonse quantity of fruit. on “ot t to the ground by a tornado that wn dune 17,and notwithstanding this severe injury, f ly five fect of new growth was made,and the wound showed up— ? dneh of granulation, which goes to show that remarkable vigor vitality. This t has frulsed twice, (in 795 and 94) producing a purely sel colored yollow fruit of a rasher rich purpleish rea on the sunny side, carries a heavy vloom,and 1s marked with a deep suture. In size it ds as large as stone, su perior in flavor,and considered a The next Go of v Lerestiny because here we have a crc z of 2 the Desoto and Maquoketa. tree No.i, in general appearance she Desoto double, single and trip] yes snaller than vet thick and of good substan broad leaves serrated like 3 triple buds,w i shows °: wendency to the early ripening of its wood. No.3,4n general appearan has a leaf 14ke nedthe: of these up more fully. The unquestionable haradr of Rosa osa in connec— tion wit beautiful foliage has prompted some very ela~ borate work with it hore upon the College grounds. Pollen was used from our best cultivated roses in the Bast. The aim being cure a class of roses equal in form, beaut: and fragrance to those of our best Eastern varieties in leagcolor of stems, size and vigor. Of Shose that have flowered, some have come semi-double, delightfully fragrant and of a pleasing shade of color,among those that have come single, some are very desirable in colér. A Tow mildew, badly shot ing thelr weakness of constitution, and inadaptability to this latitude. uch careful work has been done with the geranium, of which I will speak only in a general way as the work is by no means complete. Of a truth this can bo said that they are more floriferous, larger flowers,more of them, purer in color, tints and shades, larger,more robust, and ueautiful fol- ge, both in the house and in the order. The increase in or is quite notdceable,even to the easual observer. and interesting crosses have been made between Amarylis Johnsonii and A. Defiance,also the beautiful fairy lily zephyranches atamoska and Johnsonii. These are rare erosscs and much 4s expe thom. Some promising crosses have been made between Abut: Golden-vell and A. Belipse Also much work on She Calla Lily, the adm being So increase the size of She flowers by 1n and in breeding and selection. @ also have nine seedling plants produced from a cross made between our best double white geranium,and one of our new vrilliant scarlots, but Tor some unaccountable reason three flowers came on tne same head that were quite rich sal. mon pink, the cross vas made with the avove results. Some crosses have veen made between Nicotiana tabaccum and N. a finis with w 7 results,which I will be pleased to men- tdon in detail later. One new border plant, has be to the list of encouraging sports of Mad.Saleori and carefully selecting the game. Three new chrysant of merit,have been added to the list,and several others that show promise. The department has made a groat number of crosses b. n our, cultivated strawberries and the Manatova wild o: present an almost endless varicty of modifi tons, 1 will describe later. Also much systematic work the apple, pear and grape has been done, but desire to give n future ooice. to what has been done, one need only refer to books and periodicals on this subject. 01 is of much deeper interest to us. ‘ith the past and present experience has given, the wide vilities are beginning to dawn upon us. Hort, ndeed,a broad foundation upon which to build a 6 to add him in his work are, in and in ureeding and selection. is by no means of minor importance, since the sclen- ists have ostablishcd veyond question that hob only such a. ving exists in the plant kingdom as heredity, but that it is very characteristic table pathologists recognize the fact, that, ci can be transmitted from one plant. to another,as in the casc of the frenching and blea leaves. Its first appearance, to be sure,is a sport, butand grafting, pe can be fixed so -self with unerring certainty, and sot have been so well fixed as to come fairly true fron this 4 kowise true of all characteristics. ith these few mile-stones to guide us in our course, dare we not predict that the day is not far distant when man workshop need no longer be chaos, but will be able to use th tools nature has placed before him from a purely scientific basis, free from all conjectu ‘why should not th sAcul 3 Just how to buila up size, flavor, vigor and hardiness in his fruits and shrubs, and the florist know just how to proceed to unite, blende and pe tthe color of hi erg not only harmony, but, a glorious symphony Bh just. as much certainty 14@,and the novice gi untdl nasure refuses indulge him longer