ON-HYBRIDIZING. 14*7 



\\ e shall suppose him admiring some beautiful flower, but, alas I it 

 is too delicate for our surly climate; it comes from some country 

 where frost never congealed its flowing sap, or blighted its opening 

 beauties; still he admires and covets it ; he lias some of the same 

 family ia his garden, hardy fellows, that brave every blast ; but they 

 want the beautiful colour and form of their exotic relations. Our 

 amateur is one who has studied the structure and functions of plants, 

 and the laws by which those functions are governed in their ope- 

 rations ; he thinks he may transfer the beautiful inflorescence of the 

 exotic to its more hardy relations in the garden. And he does so; 

 art triumphs over all, his skill and forethought are abundantly crowned 

 with success. In thousands of instances has this transfer of in- 

 florescence taken place, to the gratification of every admirer of nature's 

 most lovely productions. The skill of the artist is rapidly changing 

 the face of the floral world ; a standard of perfection has been laid 

 before the florist, and all are bent on its attainment. The art, how- 

 ever, is but in its infancy ; there is not that precision and certainty 

 in results which we think will yet be attained. However, much has 

 been done ; it is an employment full of the most pleasant excitement, 

 and one to which we would invite all amateurs to share in. 



Ab the object of hybridizing is to improve in form and colour, only 

 the most perfect varieties of flowers ought to be chosen for this pur- 

 pose ; little advance need be expected, unless that rule be strictly 

 attended to, as flowers that have been artificially improved are very 

 apt to run back to their originals, unless urged on by the same supe- 

 rior attention that has brought them so far as they are. The plants 

 to be operated on must not only be of the best and most perfect 

 varieties, but they must also be in a high state of health, otherwise 

 good seed cannot be obtained. When the flowers of a plant, intended 

 for the seed plant, are about to open, and just before they expand, the 

 petals must be gentlv opened, and with a fine pointed scissors cut out 

 all the stamens*. taking care not to hurt the stigma. The reason for 

 thus early cutting out the stamens, is to prevent the pollen on them 

 from coming in contact with the stigma, which would defeat any 

 attempts at cross impregnation by being done in the natural way. 

 The plant to be operated on, and the plant to be operated with, must 

 both be in the same state of forwardness as regards their blossom; 

 very soon after the petals are expanded is the proper time to apply 



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