104 Experiments on the Fecundation of Vegetables. 



(with all the deference I feel for the opinions of LinriajuS 

 and his illuftrioug followers) whether nature ever did, or 

 «ver will, permit the produftion of fuch a nionfter. The 

 exiflcnce of numerous mules in the animal world, between 

 kindred fpecies, is allowed ; but nature has here guarded 

 aeainft their production, by impelling every animal to feek- 

 its proper mate; and, amongft the feathered tribe, when, 

 from perverfion of appetite, fcxual intcrcourfe takes plaee 

 between thofe of difl.ind genera *, it has, in fonie inftances 

 at leaft, rendered the death of the female the inevitable con- 

 fequence. But, in the vegetable world, there is not any 

 thing to diredl the male to its proper female : Its farina is 

 carried, by winds and Infefts, to plants of every diflcrent 

 genus and fp"cies; and it therefore appears to me, (as vege- 

 table mules certainly arc not common,) that nature has not 

 permitted them to exill at all. 



I cannot difmifs this fubjeft without exprcning my regret, 

 that thofo who have made the fetence of botany their ftudy, 

 fliould have confidered the improvement of thofe vegetables 

 which, in their cullivaled ftate, aflTord the largeil portion of 

 fablKtence to mankind and other animals, as Htde connedled 

 with the objeft of their purfuit. Hence it has happened, 

 that Avhilil much attention has been paid to the improve- 

 ment of every fpecies of ufeful animal, the molt valuable 

 efculcnt plants have been alnioft wdioUy ncglefted. Butj 

 when the extent of the benefit which Would arife to the 

 acriculture of the country, from the polVeflion of varieties of 

 plants which, with the fame extent of toil and labour, would 

 atlbrd even a fmall inereafe of produce, is contidered, this 

 this fubjcft appears of no incondderable importance. The 

 improvement of animals is attended with much expenfe, 

 and the inipro\ed kinds necelfarily extend themfelves llowjyj 

 but a (ingle buihel of improved wheat or peas, may in ten 

 years be made to afford feed enough to fupply the whojft 

 ifhJnd ; and a fnigle apple, or other fruit-tree, may within 

 the fame time be extended to every garden in it. Thefe 

 confiderations have been the canfe of my addrefling the fore* 

 * Tills is faiJ to be the ca!c v.dt:h ihe drake and the hen. 



going 



