20 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



Systematic work on clearly defined lines, and with 

 definite objects in view, is constantly proceeding, as well 

 in the ranks of amateurs as among professional growers, 

 and there is no apparent reason why any one of the former 

 class should not achieve as good results as a member of the 

 latter class, provided that the same care, thought, intelligence, 

 and complete understanding of the task before them are 

 brought to bear upon their work. The professional culti- 

 vator has perhaps greater incentives, and in many instances 

 better facilities, for conducting the work, but the amateur 

 who determines that he will do his best to deserve success 

 will have no cause to regret his labours. Let him take 

 courage from the success of Silas Cole with Countess Spencer 

 and Earl Spencer, of Alexander Malcolm with Edrom 

 Beauty and Masterpiece, of H. A. Perkin with the peerless 

 Nancy Perkin, of but the multiplication of names will 

 not add strength to our case ; sufficient have been specified 

 to prove that the amateur raiser is already a power in the 

 land, and will become a greater one in the future. 



Before leaving the question of raising new varieties, it 

 should be pointed out that the unfortunate lack of fixity 

 caused much thought to be given to the whole question 

 of cross-fertilisation. Efforts have been made to ascertain 

 whether the Mendelian laws of inheritance apply to the 

 flower. Mendel proved to the point of demonstration that 

 plants have characteristics absolutely defined and unalter- 



