INTRODUCTION. 27 



and following' day. If the impregnation has 

 taken place, the flower will soon fade ; but if not, 

 it will remain longer in vigour ; in which case 

 the stigmata may be again dusted with pollen to 

 ensure success. The pod or pods so impreg- 

 nated should have every care bestowed to bring 

 the seeds to perfection, by being kept guarded 

 from accidents and from exhaustion by other 

 pods on the plant. 



Should seeds come to perfection, be sowed, 

 grow, and be reared to a flowering state, the 

 major part of them will be found to have inherited 

 the form and size of the mother, and blended 

 with or wholly of the colour of the father plant. 

 In most plants which have been subjected to this 

 process, the result is very uniformly as above 

 stated. It is a curious and interesting expe- 

 dient, and particularly useful to the commercial 

 florist. It gives scope for the most extensive 

 improvements in floriculture : it presents a pros- 

 pect of how much Nature may be varied and 

 improved by art, and of the flower-gardens of 

 futurity, which will be embellished by new de- 



