CROSS IMPREGNATION. 269 



skilful hybridiser. All bulbous stemmed, and other 

 herbaceous flowering plants, as well as shrubs and 

 trees, are susceptible of such mutations. 



Even the ingenious farmer, who may be acquainted 

 with this transmutable property of plants, may benefit 

 himself and his country by creating new varieties of 

 corn. Our best known kind of barley for the pur- 

 pose of malting, indeed for all purposes, is only a 

 variety, and, what is more, a deformed and imperfect 

 sort, inasmuch as two sides of the spike are always 

 abortive ; yet this is preferred to all others. Among 

 the varieties of wheat, some have short ears, but with 

 superior grain as to quality ; others with very long 

 spikes of inferior grain. A union of these is fairly 

 within the bounds of possibility ; indeed it is more 

 than probable that superior varieties of all our corn 

 may be obtained by cross-impregnation judiciously 

 executed. But enough has been said to direct atten- 

 tion to this curious subject, it being unnecessary to 

 point to particulars, which will readily occur to every 

 one engaged in, or the least acquainted with, the cul- 

 tivation of plants. 



There is a circumstance connected with manual 

 impregnation which may just be mentioned; it has 

 been observed that strange pollen, that is, such as is 

 taken from other congenial trees, is more effectual 

 in its operation to secure the production of seed than 

 that of the plant itself. The filbert and cob-nut are 

 said to bear more profusely if assisted by having a 

 branch of the common hazel, well furnished with 



