40 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



with a camel's hair pencil, and placed on the pistil of the 

 other, having previously extracted the anthers, and if effected 

 the petals will fade and drop off sooner than otherwise, but 

 if the experiment is a failure the petals are longer falling, 

 and seldom fall clear, showing the difference in the two 

 flowers. Sometimes the Carnation will seed if the season 

 be propitious, and if crossed the petals will fade before 

 night otherwise will take ten or twelve days before they 

 fall, thus giving a fair chance for the operator to renew his 

 experiments the following day. When the Carnation seeds 

 without crossing, the seedlings will produce flowers of the 

 original stock a flesh color. 



Experiments have been tried on Lilies when the hybrid 

 resembled the mother plant in the leaf and stem, and the 

 flowers of the father, so it is with mule Pinks. Many per- 

 sons are of opinion that soil will affect the color in plants ; 

 not so, in some measure the brilliancy of colors may be af- 

 fected. It is a well known fact that Carnation growers in 

 England, when going to exhibit their flowers for premiums 

 will make the soil rich, with a view to produce fine colors, 

 which often makes them run, that is, instead of having a 

 rich stripe become selfs and worthless ; so it is with Tulips 

 and many other florist flowers. 



In hybridizing there is something interesting in the sys- 

 tem, still it is all chance work, mere speculation ; but the 

 mind of man is ever prone to projects, and will be while he 

 finds a solace in anticipation of any nature. The hybrid- 

 izing of Roses is certainly brought to the ne plus ultra of 

 perfection with most of that beautiful variety of flowers. 



