STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 59 



distinction of non-production,\vhen crossed, or of the progeny being infertile 

 mules, is very clear and distinct evidence, but it is too broad, and it is 

 found that some true hybrids are not infertile, but that they may continue 

 their race by seed ; and, on the other hand, some races or strains are 

 equally infertile; nay, many are absolutely barren when let alone, and it 

 is necessary to biing the pollen from another flower, or even from another 

 plant, to secure impregnation of the germ. The principal characteristic 

 of species is the power to reproduce beings like themseh'es that are also 

 productive. A species may be modified by external circumstances, and 

 thus give rise to races, or varieties, but it never abandons its own proper 

 character to assume another. 



In his great work on the "Variation of Plants and Animals 

 UNDER Domestication," Mr. Charles Darwin has brought together a 

 vast aiTay of most interesting facts upon this subject. Air. Asa Gray, 

 our distinguished botanist, and the American editor of the A\'ork, con- 

 siders it " a perfect treasury of facts relative to domestic animals, and 

 some of the more important cultivated plants; of the principles which 

 govern the production, improvement, and preservation of breeds and 

 races, and of the laws of inheritance, upon which all origination of 

 improved varieties depends." It is not necessary for us to adopt, nor 

 even to discuss, upon this occasion, the theories of Mr. Darwin, who 

 " regards the present species of plants and animals as older and stronger- 

 marked varieties, originated under natural selection of the sorts best 

 adapted to the circumstances and conditions of each place and time," 

 but, ^\■hilc manv of the great students of nature seem disposed to adopt 

 the Darwinian theoiy, as it is called, of progressive improvement, or 

 development, there are others who differ from him; and the learned Duke 

 of Argyll, in his philosophic treatise entitled, " The Reign of Law" 

 clearlv shows up some of the weak points of Mr. Darwin, and demon- 

 strates that "natural selection," while it may have exerted a certain 

 influence in maintaining and transmitting peculiarities, could never have 

 originated them. He also shows that selection could never have created 

 any thing. Still he admits that while " natural selection does not in the 

 least answer the conditions which we seek in a law to account for the 

 origin or the spread of such creatures as the various humming-birds, on 

 the other hand, if I am asked whether I believe that every separate 

 species has been a separate creation — not born, but separately made — I 

 must answer, that I do not believe it. * * * The facts suggest to 

 the mind the idea of the working of some creative law, almost as cer- 

 tainly as they convince us that \ve know nothing of its nature, or of 

 the conditions under which it does its glorious work." (pp. 235, 236.) 



The field of investigation presented by plants has been very thor- 

 oughly Avorked over by some most industrious and persevering investi- 

 gators. Especial attention has been given to crossing plants. Mr. 

 Sageret examined the melon tribes, Cticurbitacece^ and other fruits. His 

 results are confirmed by the testimony of Chevreal. In England, Mr. 

 Andrew Knight crossed apples, wheat, and peas, among others, and he 

 believed that his seedlings exhibited increased vigor and luxuriance. 



