RAISING NEW VARIETIES. 189 
Among men we find great divergencies of 
character between brothers and sisters, yet it 
is observed that they always hold something 
in common which distinguishes them, some 
link which connects one with another. It is 
believed by some of the raisers who have 
practised hybridization, or crossing of roses, 
that seedlings of greater beauty are to be ob- 
tained simply by selecting heps from 
naturally fertilized flowers, than from those 
which have been artificially crossed; that 
there are very many types among roses 
which are all beautiful in their way, but that 
when these are crossed, the varieties which 
result will have coarsely formed flowers, or 
be of weak constitution, etc. Such, I infer, 
is the belief of Messrs. Laxton, William 
Paul, and others of the English rosarians. 
With all deference to these gentlemen, 
whose experience certainly gives weight to 
their belief, Ido not subscribe to this opinion. 
Icannot but believe that we are even more 
certain of obtaining flowers of high finish 
from artificial than we are from natural fer- 
tilization, if we will but pattern after nature 
and carefully study the laws of cause and 
effect. 
Though there is a difference of opinion re- 
apecting the quality and finish of the roses 
