92 HYBRIDISING AND CROSS-BREEDING. 



and all that has yet been accomplished in this way appears but 

 as scattered fragments, compared with what may be expected 

 when this sacred enclosure of nature has fully yielded itself up 

 to the researches of science and philosophy. Enough has 

 been already secured to encourage and stimulate future effort. 



There is considerable analogy between seeds and buds; and 

 bearing this fact in mind, it is singular to notice that some 

 buds which ought normally to have produced leafy branches 

 and flowers the year following, bear a confused cluster of leaves 

 and flowers together. This may be often observed on badly- 

 ripened growths (pseudo - bulbs) of Dendrobium chrysanthum 

 and D. nobile. In both cases deficient nutriment is one of the 

 causes of these phenomena. The case of the Ailanthus cited 

 above bears out Mr Meehan's theory viz., that a weakened 

 vitality tends to the fuller development of the male organs; 

 and in connection with this theory it would be interesting to 

 experiment with those plants which, like Narcissus biflorus, 

 Verschaffeltii, and many others, are known to be deficient in 

 pollen, as possibly a course of starvation might cause its 

 development, and so enable us to obtain hybrids otherwise 

 impossible. Many plants, if in ill health, or if half starved, 

 are far more fertile than when amply nourished ; and weakly 

 or decaying fruit-trees often bear enormous crops, which is 

 evidently a strenuous effort towards reproduction ; and a 

 knowledge of this fact may be of great service to the intelli- 

 gent hybridist. 



Object and Results of Hybridisation. " Can anything be 

 more striking than the effects of hybridising upon Pelargoniums, 

 Heaths, Gloxinias, Verbenas, and Gladioli? By this process 

 we have given to the hardy Pears of the north all the richness 

 and delicacy of those of the south, to watery and flavourless 

 Grapes the perfume of the Muscat, to the pale-faced but hardy 

 Rhododendrons of Caucasus and America the rich and glow- 

 ing colours of their tender brethren of India, to the gaudy 

 Azalea of Pontus the crimson of the small-flowered fragrant 

 species of the United States. 



" Hybridising is a game of chance played between man and 

 plants. It is in some respects a matter of hazard ; and we all 

 know how much more excitement is produced by uncertain 

 than by certain results. What increases the charm of the 

 game is, that although the end of it may be doubtful, yet a 

 good player can judge of the issue with tolerable confidence, 

 and that skill and judgment have in this case all their cus- 

 tomary value." (Lindley.) 



It has often been said that the results to be obtained from 



