FERTILISATION OF THE GENUS ANTHURIUM. 67 
FERTILISATION OF THE GENUS ANTHURIUM. 
By Monsieur pE LA DEVANSAYE. 
I HAVE published in the Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’ Europe, 
1877, vol. xxii. p. 37, a general article on the fertilisation and hybrid- 
isation of Aroidee. Some time after, in vol. xxiii. of the same 
journal, at p. 26, I also published an article in which I explained the 
evolution of Anthurium Scherzerianum. The two articles confirmed 
and illustrated the researches and results then obtained, and even the 
hopes of hybridists of those days. 
I have also published in the Revue Horticole of Paris special articles 
dealing with the same subject. Those to whom these experiences are 
interesting, and perhaps of service, will find in the Revue the history 
of the genus Anthurium, as well as useful and necessary knowledge ; but 
as I followed up and always continued my studies on Anthurium I think it 
my duty to draw attention, not only to the two rules which formerly were 
supposed to terminate the question, but also to a third one. 
Rule 1. In most of the species of the genus Anthurium the fecunda- 
tion only operates successfully when the pollen of the same species is 
taken from a plant raised from a different batch of seedlings. 
Rule 2. The fecundation also operates with success by the application 
“of pollen belonging to species of some allied genus; for instance, that 
of Spathiphyllum. This assures fecundation, and often gives variation 
to the colouring of the flowers, and at other times to the form of the 
flowers or foliage. When the variation shows itself in the flowers the 
growth of the plant is more vigorous. The contrary happens when it 
shows itself in the form and markings of the leaves. If the fecunda- 
tion is only done with a view of reproducing and improving the type, the 
resultant seedlings coming from carefully selected varieties are generally 
more vigorous in point of growth. 
Rule 8. Now let me form a third rule, resulting from the experiences 
of many years, and to which I think I ought to attract your most 
particular attention, as it does not seem to have been noticed or explained 
before. 
I have already said how one can obtain variations, but in spite of 
good crossing it often happens that the first and second generations of 
se@llings have no (or very little) new blood in them. Such seedlings 
similar only to the type have been abandoned, given up, or destroyed. 
It is an error to do this because the variations may eventually result from 
a very slight—almost unnoticeable —change of the type. One must have 
patience, as the seed of the third and fourth future generations obtained 
from these plants may unexpectedly give the desired change. 
It very seldom occurs that a variation is produced immediately among 
first seedlings of species or of hybrids; the process must be continued. 
F2 
