FUNCTION.] CONSEQUENCES OP HYBRIDISM. 249 



not sections of one genus, cross-breeding cannot be effected 

 generally, and in no case easily; that in some genera of 

 plants many or all the cross-bred varieties are fertile, and in 

 others nearly allied thereto all, or almost all, are sterile ; the 

 assertion that the races of canis or dog must have had one 

 origin because their crossed produce is fertile, and the races 

 of felis, from the cat to the tiger, must have had separate 

 origin because their crossed produce is sterile (supposing the 

 fact to be true, which is not ascertained), must fall to the 

 ground. The only thing certain is, that we are ignorant of 

 the origin of races ; that God has revealed nothing to us on 

 the subject; and that we may amuse ourselves with specu- 

 lating thereon, but we cannot obtain negative proof, that is, 

 proof that two creatures or vegetables of the same family did 

 not descend from one source. But we can prove the affirma- 

 tive ; and that is the use of hybridising experiments, which 

 I have invariably suggested ; for if I can produce a fertile 

 offspring between two plants that botanists have reckoned 

 fundamentally distinct, I consider that I have shown them to 

 be one kind ; and indeed I am inclined to think that, if a 

 well-formed and healthy offspring proceeds at all from their 

 union, it would be rash to hold them of distinct origin. We 

 see every day the wide range of seminal diversities in our 

 gardens. We have known the dahlias from a poor single 

 dull-coloured flower break into superior forms and brilliant 

 colours ; we have seen a carnation, by the reduplication of 

 its calyx, acquire almost the appearance of an ear of wheat, 

 and look like a glumaceous plant ; we have seen hollyhocks 

 in their generations branch into a variety of colours, which 

 are reproduced by the several descendants with tolerable cer- 

 tainty. We cannot, therefore, say that the order to multiply 

 after their kind meant that the produce should be precisely 

 similar to the original type ; and, if the type was allowed to 

 reproduce itself with variation, who can pretend to say how 

 - much variation the Almighty allowed ? Who can say that 

 His glorious scheme for peopling and clothing the earth was 

 not the creation of a certain number of original animals and 

 vegetables, predestined by Him in their reproduction to 

 exhibit certain variations, which should hereafter become 



