54 REMARKS ON OBTAINING HYBRID CORR^AS, &C. 



ARTICLE III. 



REMARKS ON OBTAINING HYBRID CORR^AS, &c, 



BY AN AMATEUR CULTIVATOR. 



The beautiful Correea speciosa I obtained about twenty years back, 

 and have grown it ever since, considering it one of the most neat and 

 beautiful winter and early spring flowering plants. The other species 

 introduced, and hybrid varieties that have been raised, since the 

 former period named, I have obtained as soon as I could. I now 

 possess twenty-six different kinds, and have had them in fine bloom 

 since the beginning of November in my greenhouse, and T expect 

 them to continue till May. Their beautiful tubular-formed flowers 

 of varied colours, producing a pleasing contrast, render the entire 

 family one of much interest. Four years back I commenced hybri- 

 dizing, with a view to obtain other distinctive varieties between the 

 best species I had, as C. speciosa, pulchella, &c. 1 have since raised 

 a" considerable number of varieties, and not two of them alike, vary- 

 ing either in colour, form, habit, or size. I was much astonished 

 with the result, that from the same parent, there was such a dissimi- 

 larity after the process of an artificial impregnation. It is, however, 

 well known that artificial or natural peculiarities can be, and are, 

 transmitted from parent to offspring, in the vegetable as well as in the 

 animal kingdom, although we cannot yet, and, perhaps, may never 

 be able to account why such constitutional peculiarities are so trans- 

 ferred. Let us, then, be content with knowing that these pecu- 

 liarities do exist ; let us, likewise, 'multiply and register as many 

 facts as bear directly or indirectly on the subject; and, from an ac- 

 cumulated store of this nature, something tangible may yet be 

 deduced for future guidance. To know when the stigma is ready for 

 dusting with pollen, to extract unripe anthers from an intended 

 female parent, is so simple that it might be taught to a child in a 

 few minutes ; not so the means by which certain properties may be 

 produced, and ultimately will probably be produced at pleasure, by 

 cross fertilization : say, cross offspring with very dwurf and fruitful 

 habits, or the reverse; very luxuriant habit with double flowers, or 

 the contrary ; and many other peculiarities, needless to mention here. 

 Yet we have presumptive evidence already that all these states of 

 existence are guided by certain fixed laws, and, perhaps, depend on 



