Production of Hybrids. 243 



also, that hybrids have a tendency to partake, m successive 

 generations, more or less of the distinct qualities derived from 

 either parentage. Thus, undoubtedly, kinds of fruits are 

 changed in time ; they fall back from the agreeable mingling 

 of different elements more nearly to the primal condition of 

 one of them. Every amateur knows the difficulty of retain- 

 ing tulips which will continue to " break," as they did when 

 newly received ; and the dahlia. Striata, in its proneness to 

 bloom a self-color, is a striking illustration of what we have 

 suggested. And hence, we say, doubting the permanency of 

 varieties in succeeding years, that we must look to new 

 hybrids to retain the present character of earth's products. 



But the intrinsic importance of this subject suggests at 

 once, that, so far from trusting to the occasional recurrence 

 of favorable modifications, their production should be reduced 

 as much as possible to the accuracy of a system. The cul- 

 tivator may do wisely to avail himself of the accidents when- 

 ever they occur. And with this view we would encourage 

 the successive sowing of seeds of all kinds of fruits, vegeta- 

 bles, and flowers, with the subsequent care of the young 

 plants, until it shall be ascertained that they are valueless ; or 

 of value unequal to the originals. It is certainly to be hoped, 

 that the generous premiums offered by the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society may induce some friends of good fruits 

 to dispense with the practice of raising all their currant and. 

 gooseberry bushes from cuttings, when, in so short a time, 

 the seedings may be fairly tested ; and such seedings, jjrob- 

 ably, would scarcely ever fall behind the parent stock. In 

 Europe, a vast deal is done in this way, and hence, the 

 success there, in producing new kinds. But surely it is high 

 time not to depend upon the other side of the Atlantic for 

 fruits which may be rivalled by native, and therefore better, 

 kinds for our culture. 



It seems to have been the purpose of Providence, who has 

 hid in merest germs such capacities yet to be worked, and 

 capable in successive generations of an indefinite develop- 

 ment for human advantage and convenience, that man, 

 adding science to the ordinary accidents of culture, and pa- 



