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veloped several distinct varieties. This was due to the 

 fact that the plants were grown in the open, where the 

 pollen from any number of varieties could reach the 

 blossom and help in the fertilisation. Occasionally a 

 new variety possessing high qualities was obtained 

 and found a place in cultivation, but all was a matter 

 of chance, and no one could definitely say what its 

 breeding was. Of recent years the crossing has been 

 carried out on scientific and systematic lines, with much 

 more satisfactory results. Even now, however, the 

 crossing of two varieties of high repute may not 

 necessarily produce offspring worth development. In 

 fact, a very small proportion of those raised are found 

 worth bringing into cultivation. They may not show 

 characteristics differing from the parent stocks ; they 

 may not have developed the extra vigour which is 

 desirable, or they may be distinctly less valuable than 

 either of the varieties from which they sprang. The 

 mere fact of crossing two varieties, however good they 

 may be individually, does not ensure an improvement. 

 The success obtained hitherto does not warrant the 

 statement that the hybridiser can obtain any feature he 

 may desire, though it must be admitted that a few 

 have commanded an extraordinary share of success. 

 The good results which have attended the efforts of a 

 few of the most notable hybridisers prove that it is not 

 a matter of chance. During the last few years Mr. 

 Findlay, of Markinch, has been very successful, and no 

 one would say that his many successes were entirely 

 due to chance. Previously Mr. Clarke, the raiser 



