LECT. in QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 55 



others diverse from both are secured ; and with 

 judgment in selection and skill in manipulation 

 varieties are greatly improved ; but there can be no 

 union between a lilium and a dahlia, nor a fuchsia and 

 a geranium, or any other totally distinct families of 

 plants. It will be perceived that in this interesting 

 work the intelligent hybridizer becomes an originator 

 of new plants and flowers, thus adding to the beauty 

 of a beautiful world. 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 



Q. Are we to understand that the grains of flower dust are 

 like seeds, but seeds only grow in the soil while pollen grains 

 grow on flowers ? 



A. It can be so understood ; the pollen, farina, or flower 

 dust, call it what we may, is composed of a number of grains, 

 and these when seen under the microscope are found to differ in 

 shape and size from different flowers, the same as seeds do from 

 different plants. 



Q. Is there any cheap work with illustrations from which we 

 can learn more on this interesting subject ? 



A. Certainly. Sir Joseph Hooker's Primer on Botany can be 

 had for a shilling through any bookseller. It is published by 

 Macmillan's, and tells far more about the matter than I can 

 state here, for these are horticultural not botanical lectures. 



Q. Has any useful result followed the raising of new plants 

 by the process of fertilisation ? 



A. "Useful results!" It is safe to say it has resulted in 

 improving families of plants, in some instances to the extent of 

 a revolution, and many thousands of pounds have been realised 

 by the sale of such plants. All the gorgeous tuberous 

 begonias are the outcome of this process, as are the finest 

 varieties of other kinds of flowers, hardy and tender, as well as 

 many varieties of vegetables and fruits. 



Q. Passing to another subject ; can you tell us anything 

 more about what you referred to as "improvement by selec- 

 tion," and if new varieties have been obtained in that way? 



A. New forms of both vegetables and flowers of great value 

 have been obtained by .taking advantage of what may seem 



