"Michael Odom" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 7 Feb 2005 23:41:22 +0100, (Victor Sack)
> wrote:
>
>>Darryl > wrote:
>>
>>> The Granny Smith apples were tasty, but not crisp.
>>
>>They are still crisp around here (Germany).
>>
>>Victor
>
> Here in Cow Hill, TX, too.
>
> BTW, it was my understanding that apple genetics are so randomized
> that breeding them is nearly impossible. Pollan in his book _The
> Botany of Desire_ writes that there is no way to predict which part of
> the apple genome will be dominant in any given seed. If you plant a
> seed from a Braeburn, you are practically guaranteed not to get a tree
> that bears Braeburn apples. In fact, there is no guarantee that the
> tree's fruit will even be palatable. Propagating apples is done via
> grafting, I believe.
Correct. Commercial growers do not plant apple seeds, at least not for the
trees they use for production purposes.