604 APPENDIX. 



describer of facts, lands us in mist when he leaves the field of observation 

 for that of explanation or imagination. Apart from the question involved, 

 there are obvious reasons why propagation by seed would be Nature's 

 usual mode of increase; and, according to the present order of things, 

 and the correlation of insect and plant life, cross-fertilisation is a necessity 

 it cannot be prevented but by a miracle. But, instead of being an element 

 or the foundation of the stability of varieties, it is rather the very vortex 

 of change, unless, indeed, it could be proved which it cannot that only 

 the same varieties can be cross-fertilised by each other. On the contrary, 

 it is obvious that all the varieties of a species can, as a rule, be freely cross- 

 fertilised ; and, popularly understood, cross-fertilisation means the latter, 

 not the former and is the means adopted, not to give steadiness to old 

 varieties, but to evoke new ones." 



On the other hand, we must remember that particular kinds of both 

 species and many garden plants such as Pine-apples, Grapes, Bananas, 

 and most other fruits are nearly invariably increased or reproduced by the 

 vegetative modes of propagation, and rarely by the sexual method, that 

 is, by seed. In the case of Bananas, Pine-apples, Sultana and Corinth 

 Grapes, vegetative propagation has been practised from time immemorial. 

 The result of this is, that the life of each individual is prolonged, together 

 with its peculiarities, but no new life is originated, and there is no varia- 

 tion as compared with that which almost invariably takes place when 

 plants are raised from seeds. Again, many of the travellers who have 

 hitherto collected natural species and varieties for our gardens, have 

 necessarily, in accordance with their object, chosen the most showy, the 

 most marketable plants, rather than such as would help to throw light on 

 the various questions as to the development and perpetuation of plant-life 

 which now perplex us, and which will continue to occupy our attention 

 until the rising representatives of Darwin, Spruce, and Bates shall have 

 accomplished somewhat of the great work of foreign travel and study 

 which yet remains undone. 



