NEW CREATIONS IN PLANT LIFE 



raised and crossed the amaryllis, but only for 

 curiosity's sake and on a small scale. But soon 

 the results promised that more labor and ex- 

 pense bestowed upon them would in the end 

 be well rewarded. Then he commenced the 

 development more systematically and turned 

 his attention to the propagation of very de- 

 cided properties,— larger flowers, but, espe- 

 cially, more flowers on the same stem, and next 

 to that, all those characteristics which would 

 give more rapid development and a larger re- 

 productive power. Some bulbs which, when 

 starting the experiment, produced only five or 

 six bulbs, were forced by crossing with more 

 fertile species and a careful selection to double 

 the number of bulbs, while at the same time^ 

 the bulbs were increased in size and threw out 

 stronger stems and fuller flowers. 



" But what was the most remarkable was 

 the shortening of the duration of life, from 

 seed to seed, as it is called. I mean the num- 

 ber of years which a seedling requires before 

 it blossoms and produces seed. It is clear how 

 much this includes. If after every crossing 

 there elapse four or five years before the result 

 may be judged by the one flower, all that time 



74 



