116 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [May, 



to be the more enticing. Thus fixed, the slightest touch will cause the wire to 

 give way, and the brick will fall instantly, and crush whatever is beneath it. 



I have tried all other known means for destroying these little ravagers with 

 but partial success, but with this trap I have caught no less than forty-two mice 

 within the last fortnight upon two rows of peas. This, however, is not the only 

 use to which the trap may be put, for if that artful and mischievous bird, the 

 sparrow, dares to meddle with the pea, his career may, by its means, be as 

 suddenly cut short as that of the mouse ; eleven of these troublesome birds have 

 fallen victims to their boldness since the peas have appeared above ground. My 

 traps are, indeed, just now catching many more sparrows than mice, which 

 may be accounted for by the sparrow being fonder than the mouse of the 

 young shoots of the pea. 



This trap is not a new invention, for I. believe it has been used for some years 

 in this neighbourhood. However, it is not so well known as it deserves to be. 

 I have introduced it into all my sheds, mushroom-houses, &c, as Avell as into 

 the shrubberies, with surprising success. I claim for it the merits of simplicity, 

 cheapness, and efficiency. Half-a-dozen such traps can be set up in five minutes ; 

 they cost next to nothing ; and they are certain in their action. 



Lillesden, Haiokliurst. Thomas Eecoed. 



THOUGHTS ON CROSS-BREEDING PLANTS. 



f?ERY few of us, I fear, appreciate the value of cross-breeding, or hybridiz- 

 J ing, as it is commonly called, or give to it that time and attention that 

 f^ it really deserves. The improvements which have already been effected 

 % by this agency, in the case of both plants and animals, by the few who 

 have devoted themselves to it with more or less success, are astounding, but I 

 fear the principles upon which action should be based, are far from being pro- 

 perly understood amongst gardeners. Generally when this interesting and rather 

 excitable hobby is set upon by the novice, quantity is made the main object, but 

 this is, undoubtedly, a great mistake. For example, when visiting the garden of 

 Mr. Banks, the eminent Fuchsia-raiser, who has for some years been realizing a 

 considerable sum annually by breeding Fuchsias, I was surprised to find, con- 

 sidering the success to which he has attained, how very few seedlings he raises 

 each year. Again, when I had the pleasure of inspecting the exceedingly 

 interesting garden of Mr. Morris, of Deptford, who is well known as one of the 

 most successful raisers of Zonal Pelargoniums, I learned that this gentleman also 

 raised but very few seedlings. On inquiring how it was that within such a limited 

 range he was successful in obtaining so many distinct varieties, Mr. Morris told 

 me, that having first fixed his mind on two varieties that were perfectly opposite, 

 or possessed decidedly distinct features, plants of these were carefully prepared 

 and brought forward for impregnation, every possible pains and all past 

 experience being brought to bear on this preparation for impregnation. In the 



