related fpecies of the fame genus, and by fubmitting thefe to a 

 fuitable culture will occafion fim51ar changes, in the endlefs 

 variety of which the fpecies may eafily be confounded with the 

 one before in cultivation* 



3 This blending of different fpecies will be ftill farther 

 promoted by the accidental or purpofely-contrived admixture 

 of them, by fecundating one with the pollen of another. 

 An offspring partaking of both parents is the confequence, 

 and in fome cafes perhaps a permanent intermediate va- 

 riety, fcarcely to be diftinguifhed from a really diftinct. 

 fpecies, may be thus produced. For we cannot go fo far, in 

 either the vegetable or animal kingdom, as to aiTert with fome 

 authors, that hybrids or mules are in every cafe fteril. Mule 

 birds, as we are aflured by breeders, will frequently procreate, 

 and the offspring of the wolf and the dog has been proved to be 

 prolific; but we are not thence to conclude, as fome have 

 done, that the canary and gold-finch, the wolf and the dog 

 are in reality the fame fpecies. We can fee however that the 

 confounding of different fpecies by thefe mixed productions is 

 very limited, in many cafes confined to the individuals firft 

 produced, in others terminating perhaps with the next or 

 third generation, and if a longer exiftence be allowed, we 

 may infer a very great proximity between the parent plants. 

 In vegetables indeed the duration may be longer from their 

 power of propagation by other means than by feeds, but 

 the increafe obtained by offsets from the roots, cuttings, or 

 layers, when the foftering care of man ceafes, will fhortly 

 perifh. Hence a very long-continued exiftence without 

 change will often afford a ftrong prefumption of a plant's 

 being a real fpecies. 



Armed with fuch reflexions, the Botanift may boldly enter 

 .the FloriiVs parterre, undifmayed by the barbarous hoft of a 

 Dutch catalogue. Here he will certainly find, that if the older 

 botanical writers frequently raifed varieties to the rank of 

 fpecies, the modern have fometimes confounded fuch as are 

 really, and ever have been, diftinct. 



To enable us to decide in difficult cafes, it becomes necef- 

 fary to dudy varieties as well as fpecies ; and this muft be our 

 apology for admitting feveral of the former into a work, in 

 the general plan of which they are excluded. Faithful re- 

 prefentations and accurate defcriptions, when recorded,' can- 

 not fail to eftablifh the truth in the end. S. 



