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will be found, which is the only part possessing fecundat- 

 ing properties, which, like disease, generally affect those 

 near. The infectious parts operate on the single flowers 

 within their vicinity, contaminating the others and pro- 

 ducing diseased flowers, or, in other words, double flowers. 

 This may be true logic, and not understanding botany suf- 

 ficiently, I cannot contradict its doctrine. If seeds that 

 produce double flowers be diseased, it is surprising that so 

 many plants of a double nature are so vigorous in growth. 

 We know that people of a diseased nature have generally 

 a weak instead of a robust constitution, and that their pro- 

 geny are generally the same, and will soon cease to exist ; 

 thus we often see a whole family cut off by consumption. 

 I should suppose, by analogy, that plants were subject to 

 the same fatality. 



I have noticed gardeners, who were in the habit of rais- 

 in or Stocks, tie the double and single flowering stems to- 

 gether ; this is termed by the florists, marrying them, or 

 in other words, I suppose, to convey the disease to the sin- 

 gle, in case the Bee should not perform the operation so 

 desirable to the florist to obtain double flowers. It is also 

 asserted that the Bee will not go from flower to flower of 

 a different family. How that insect should possess so dis- 

 criminating a knowledge is strange. The works of " na- 

 ture's God " appear wonderful, far beyond the understand- 

 ing of man. This knowledge cannot be imparted to the 

 Bee to prevent plants of a different genera from being 

 crossed ; for we know that flowers within the proximation 

 of each other will hybridize without the Bee. Plants of a 

 different genera have been crossed by the skilful hand of 

 the florist, but with more difficulty than others: and unless 

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