294: GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 



their hybrid variations, Syrmgas, Forsythias, Ligustrums and the 

 Hybrid Perpetual Roses. 



HYBRIDIZATION. 



Much has been accomplished by the union of species, and especially by 

 the crossing of varieties; but the work is only in its infancy, because 

 that which has already been done has been, to a large extent, chance 

 work. We do not possess well-established rules for guidance in the 

 selection of parents. Much labor has unwittingly been expended 

 upon impossible subjects, through a desire on the part of the oper- 

 ator to produce some astonishing result all at once. Even from 

 plants which readily cross, many seedlings are raised, which, be- 

 cause of poor judgment used in selection of parents, only result in 

 discouraging the breeder. Beginners who are inclined to practice 

 hybridizing should confine their attenion toward improving types 

 which are already well advanced, pos.-ibly using a desirable spe- 

 cies as a seed parent, but fighting shy of crossing two species. To prose- 

 cute the actual work inteligently, the operator should have at least a 

 slight knowledge of the relationship of one species to another as well ap 

 of the genera and natural orders. A knowledge of the different parts of 

 a flower and the missions they are intended to fulfill are absolutely 

 necessary. It may be briefly stated that most flowers have male and 

 female organs in the same flower, such as we find in flowers of the Rose. 

 Some plants have the male and female organs on separate flowers, but 

 on the same plant as in Begonia. Others again have the male flowers 

 on one plant, and the female flowers on another, as in Nepenthes and 

 Willow. Artificial pollination consists simply in transferring the pollen 

 from the anthern of one flower to the stigma of another. To make sure 

 that this pollen will have every opportunity to act, and pollen of the 

 same or other plants, which is not wanted, excluded, the stamens or 

 male organs of the flower to be pollinated should be removed before the 

 anthers are in a condition to shed their pollen, and the flower afterward 

 tied up in a very fine gauze, or paper bag, during the process of fertili- 

 zation. 



POTTING PLANTS. 



No rules can be laid down which would apply equally to all kinds of 

 plants grown in pots, as different kinds of plants require different treat- 

 ment in this respect. Some require that the soil be rammed quite firmly 

 about the old ball. These, as a rule, are hard-wooded plants, with fine 

 roots, such as Heaths and Azaleas. Palms thrive best in a moderately 

 well-firmed soil. Soft-growing plants are less fastidious in this respect. 

 Again, there are seasons when some plants should be potted. The hard- 

 wooded kinds are usually potted in Spring before active growth com- 

 mences. Ferns are given their annual shift before starting into growth; 

 many of them, however, will stand shifting several times during a year. 

 But for all plants it may be stated that the beginning of their resting 

 season should find the ball of earth well supplied with roots, for if given 

 a shift when growth is completed water will lodge in the fresh soil, and 

 this will turn sour and almost certainly cause the plant to become 



