HYBRIDISING IN AUSTRALIA. 397 
for some years. These experiments are most interesting as showing 
how some members of the same family will at once respond whilst 
others positively refuse to be influenced by sexual intercourse. 
Lilium tigrinum x L. elegans Wallacei resulted in every flower operated 
upon producing huge pods of seed. But when Liliwm speciosum album 
x L. tigrinum, and L. speciosum rubrum x L. tigrinum, and L. tigrinum x 
L. speciosum album were tried, the results were very different, as the female 
organ in a very short space of time showed unmistakable signs of decay, 
and in a couple of days had quite withered. This was so not in one 
instance only, but the whole forty blooms used in the experiment showed 
the same symptoms. As evidence that this was no fault of the prospective 
seed parent, some later flowers were tried, L. speciosum album x L. 
speciosum rubrum, when they at once returned to fertility. The same thing 
occurred, only under less favourable conditions, with L. speciosum album 
x L. auratum, and the same x L. sulphureum. However, under the circum- 
stances I am reluctant to conclude, without farther extended trial, that a 
union of speciosum and awratwm cannot be effected, as so much depends 
upon what may be termed the seed-bearing mood of the plant, which is 
often absent when the reproductive organs show the most perfect 
development. 
The family of the amaryllids undoubtedly offers a wide field for 
investigation. In 1903 a rather extended trial was made to induce a union 
between Crinum Moorei and Crinum yemense x Vallota purpurea, 
and Brunsvigia x Vallota. At the very commencement the indications 
were not encouraging.’ However, to make the tests conclusive, they 
were continued through the whole flowering season, more especially to 
see whether any atmospheric conditions prevailing during the time would 
be more favourable for inducing fertility than others: bright and hot 
days; cool, dewy and cloudy; the cool atmosphere of early morning; the 
dry heat of midday ; and the cool dry evening air, were all alike in failing 
to produce what appears to me to be a forbidden union. 
Crinum yemense x Hymenocallis macrostephana crossed without any 
difficulty, as did also Brunsvigia Baptisii x Lycoris aurea. But the 
most interesting was that effected between an unnamed variety of 
Hippeastrum and Agapanthus wmbellatus. The Hippeastrum flowers here 
in October and November, but in favourable seasons a stray scape is 
again thrown up in January and February. It was one of these that 
made this cross possible ; otherwise the pollen of Agapanthus would have 
to be preserved for a period of ten or eleven months, which is far too 
long. There were four flowers on the scape when they were pollinated 
with Agapanthus umbellatus : of these four, one was injured by being too 
early emasculated, a week before they reached the receptive stage (prob- 
ably through being produced in the off season). Two flowers perished, 
but the remaining one produced a full pod of seeds. At this stage, though 
the seeds were of normal appearance I doubted their fertility. However, 
they were sown, and nine plants resulted. Three died in the seed pan ; 
but six still remain, which have not yet reached the flowering stage, but 
are strong and healthy and appear to be evergreen. This being a case 
of overlapping botanical divisions I never intended divulging it until 
the plants had flowered. But a recent report that a gentleman near 
