Hybridizing. 123 



we should seek to combine those kinds which possess the desired properties in the 

 most eminent degree. 



The question next arising is, Do certain properties proceed more from the one 

 parent than from the other? and if so, which and what are they? If we could ascer- 

 tain this we might then work by rule. It is the opinion of some Vegetable Physiolo- 

 gists that the offspring assumes the foliage and habit of the male while the flowers 

 are influenced more by the female parent. These may be the rules, but there are 

 exceptions to them ; and it would appear that there is nothing yet made known that 

 can be taken as an absolute guide in the matter. But if in hybridizing the operator 

 follow the dictates of his own reason, and closely watch the results of his labour, he 

 will in all probability not absolutely fail, and be at length enabled to build up a 

 theory of his own. This it is most desirable to do, but until he has done this he must 

 be content to work by the light of others or grope his way in darkness. 



That certain cultivators have acquired by practice sufficient knowledge in hybrid- 

 izing to enable them to attain sometimes to a given object is my firm belief; and 

 this is founded on the frequent appearance of the kind of plant, or an approach to it, 

 that has been pronounced a desideratum, A case occurs to me which will serve to 

 illustrate this remark. Within my memory we had no dark or very light Bourbon 

 Roses. Nearly all were of a rose or lilac hue. But there was a cry raised for dark 

 ones. Proserpine first arose, and her beauty captivated every beholder. Next came 

 Paul Joseph, darker still, and still more beautiful. Then one raiser was fortunate 

 enough to obtain several very dark varieties, and some pale coloured ones also 

 appeared about the same time. Now, what inference can" we draw from these facts, 

 when we consider that similar varieties proceeded from different quarters, unless it be 

 that the skill of the hybridizer was directed, and that successfully, towards originating 

 them. 



The dark Bourbon Roses of which we have just spoken are those introduced to 

 England in 1 843 under the names of Souchet, Charles Souchet, Dumont du Courset, 

 Gloire de Paris, Princess Clementine, Souvenir du Dumont D'Urville, and Comte de 

 Rambuteau. These were all raised from seed by one individual. I remember 

 visiting the establishment of M. Souchet, at Paris, where alone these Roses were to 

 be seen, in the Summer of 1 842 ; and although a violent thunderstorm had just 

 passed over the city, producing the usual consequences to the denizens of the garden, 

 I could see from the wreck that they were a splendid lot of Roses. There were at 

 that time twelve varieties, the one a light-coloured one (Madame Souchet), but nine 

 only were introduced to England. What became of the other three I could never 

 learn. But other dark and light Bourbon Roses were also obtained by other raisers 

 about the same time. 



Now, with such an example as this before us, need we pause over the improba- 

 bilities of improving or extending the range of colour in any other class of Roses ? 



