80 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Prof. Robinson said that Mr. Hovey had confused cross-fertiliza- 

 tion and hybridization. We should keep distinct the perpetuation 

 of the race, and the improvement of varieties. 



H. Weld Fuller asked whether Nature was not always exercising 

 a strong recuperative power, and making an effort to protect herself. 

 He thought this power was shown in the tendency of variegated 

 plants to revert to their original t^'pe. Darwin is a most careful 

 observer and a faithful recorder ; if he believes that certain matter 

 was created with innate power of reproduction, self-preservation, 

 and indefinite renewal, the great Author of that power is not thereby 

 ignored ! Darwin does not destroy the necessit}^ of a first cause. 

 The endowment of a seed with the capacity of development into 

 varieties remarkable for their beaut}^ or use, is as wonderful as the 

 creation of those varieties would be. Human ingenuity may con- 

 trive a clock which may run for a week or a year, but it can give no 

 vitality or endless energy to its materials. It requires a God to 

 construct one which will run through all ages, renewing itself con- 

 tinually and knowing no change or stop. Mr. Fuller thought the 

 principles of hybridizing were well understood ; the way is to get 

 the best varieties of everything and breed from them. 



The Chairman said that we should endeavor to preserve the dis- 

 tinction between cross-fertilization and hj'bridization. Prof. Good- 

 ale's point is that Nature adopts the principle of cross-fertilization 

 largel}' for the purpose of suppressing changes. 



Mr. Wetherell expressed his satisfaction that Prof. Robinson had 

 made the distinction between cross-fertilizing for the perpetuation 

 of the race and for the improvement of varieties. 



Mr. Hovey remarked that the difference between hybrids and 

 other crosses is that the former are not fertile. 



The Chairman said that the close attention given to the discussion 

 for two hours showed the practical interest of the subject. A mo- 

 tion was made to continue the discussion the next week, which 

 was carried. 



