General Notices. 123 



that Nature, in lier wisdom, had not only set bounds to the admixture of 

 species, but she had also set up other barriers almost as insurmountable as 

 the mixing of species themselves, for we find that a perfect hybrid, both in 

 the animal and vegetable kingdom, is almost always incapable of propagat- 

 ing itself by natural means. In the animal kingdom, the mule is a striking 

 instance ; and, in the vegetable kingdom, it is only by again crossing the 

 true hybrid by one of its own parents that we can expect success, and, after 

 we have succeeded, the general tendency of the progeny is to return to one 

 or other of the original parents. Thus it requires all the vigilance of the 

 cultivator to mark, seize, and act upon every variation, however slight, that 

 may present iiself to his observation. After various allusions to the ad- 

 mixture of species in the animal kingdom, Mr. K. proceeded to state that, 

 in vegetables, Brassicas freely mix with Brassicas in all their gradations. 

 But who would think of crossing a cabbage with an oak ! The general 

 rule is, that plants only which are nearly related are capable of producing 

 crosses. There are some exceptions, however, to this rule, for the beauti- 

 ful pelargoniums and the scarlet geranium, though nearly allied, he had not 

 been able to mix. Again, the raspberry and strawberry are first cousins; 

 yet, after several attempts, they have not hybridized. The gooseberry and 

 the currant are nearly related ; yet their alliance seems invincible, though 

 tried by skilful hands. Mr. K. then commented on the mixture of herba- 

 ceous and shrubby species of plants, particularly calceolarias and semi- 

 herbaceous fuchsias. After alluding to the improvements that might be 

 effected in culinary vegetables and fruits by hybridizing, he proceeded to 

 state that, although hybridizing had already produced important results, 

 there is no telling what might yet be produced by the skilful application of 

 the means which Nature has put into our hands. The existence of sexes in 

 plants is now acknowledged by all, and hybridizing, as well as cross-breeding, 

 is generally performed in the following manner : — Carefully select parents 

 possessing the nearest approach to the properties desired, place them apart 

 from plants of their kind, and pay particular attention to their cultivation, in 

 order to obtain a healthy fructification. It may be discretionary which to 

 select as the male and female ; by all that is known, the progeny will take 

 more after the males. When the plants are in flower, carefully extract the 

 anthers from the flower you intend should produce seed, before they arrive 

 at maturity, or your attempts will be of no avail ; for Nature will have per- 

 formed her part, and, instead of a hybrid, you will have a natural progeny. 

 After extracting the anthers from the flower you wish to bear the seed, 

 carefully watch the progress of the stigma, and, as soon as you find it in a 

 condition to receive the pollen, choose the matured anthers, and bring them 

 in gentle contact with the stigma, to which sufiicient pollen will adheie. 

 In some plants, there is no difl!iculty in ascertaining the precise time, when 

 the stigma is ready to receive the pollen, such are pelargoniums, the stigma 

 in which, until perfectly matured, is closed, and, if not watched at its expan- 

 sion, and fertilized, abortion will follow. It must be borne in mind that the 

 stigma once fertilized is sufficient. Insects and strong currents of air should 

 be excluded whilst plants for hybridizing are in flower. Mr. Beck, and 



