REVIEW AND INFERENCES. 31 



does not engage its care-taker in hybridizing? He 

 should contract for hybrids grander than those we add 

 at present by the legion to those already in existence. 

 Pursue your task with thought, and aim at raising the 

 best, and that often. Thus you have an opportunity to 

 attach a reputation to your name 'which everybody will 

 be ready to attribute to you if deserving of it! 



Remember also that the scientists are interested in 

 your work. Our knowledge is but fractional in many 

 points, and if you hear about a puzzling problem arising, 

 lend your assistance and solve such problems. 



If you have on hand seedlings which you think de- 

 serve weeding out from among the bed of idolized pets, 

 do not murder the unfortunate foundlings. Remember 

 that hybridizing is the greatest step towards acclimatiz- 

 ing those strangers in our greenhouses, and that every 

 grower in the cut-flower trade will if he pays attention 

 to what is to his best be only to glad to purchase your 

 bastard. They are easier to grow. They have but rudi- 

 mentary wants as compared with the perfected species, 

 and like the long-eared mule of our mountains lives on 

 the bark of the tree we chop down for him when pitch- 

 ing tent; so will your e very-day-face bastard live on the 

 scrapings of the barnyard and grow like stocks and 

 jelly-flowers. 



Futhermore let me entreat you to keep track of your 

 work. Take notes and be truthfully strict about what 

 you observe. You have but a faint idea how many are 

 interested in your work, and it is impossible for you to 

 anticipate what the result of your effort may turn out 

 to be. The law of atavisrnus may play the queerest 

 pranks with your plantlets, and confront you with results 

 that overshadow the astonishment of a cuckoo's mother. 

 Let us learn how long a time was required to land your 

 3 



