182 Iletrospcclive Criiicistn. 



inventors, the best ever known, that the inexperienced are placed in such 

 a dilemma, that they know not how to act, or which system to prefer, if 

 even they wish to alter their plans ; and when to this it is added, that so 

 many plans have been adopted, without the anticipated success, no wonder 

 that many have yet their minds, as it were, riveted to smoke-flues, with all 

 their losses and inconveniences. As an antidote for all this, the above 

 experiment is urged ; and I would not limit this experiment to the steam 

 system I advocate, and the water system only, but, if any other system of 

 steam, water, or smoke-flues be considered of distinguished merit, let such 

 also enter the list. In an experiment of this nature, the opinions of men 

 will be utterly abolished ; it will not be said, such a man, or such a class of 

 men, are of opinion that such or such a system is the best, but truth itself 

 will appear, and the positive merits of each system stand on the broad basis 

 of unyielding matter of fact. 



Trusting, Sir, that you will discover so much utility in an experiment of 

 this nature as will lead to its actual execution, I , conclude with stating, 

 that if the desired answer be returned to this in the next Number of your 

 Magazine, before the pubhcation of the Number following you will receive 

 from me an account of the place where, the person by whom, with further 

 particulars how, and to what extent, the above experiment shall be con- 

 ducted. Yours, truly, — J. H. Rotherham, April 1 2. 



Mr. Sweet's Opinion as to the Permanenci/ of Hybrids. — Dear Sir, In your 

 last Number of the Gardener's Magazine (Vol. III. p. 445.), you mention it 

 as your opinion that Magnolia Soulangea7!« will not remain permanent, but 

 will return into M. yulan. If it is really of hybrid origin, there is no more 

 likelihood of its changing, than of any one species changing into another. 

 I believe I have had as much experience in hybrid plants, and have raised 

 as many sorts, as any person whatever, and with them I have tried all sorts 

 of experiments ; and I am quite certain that a real hybrid production will 

 remain as permanent as the most distinct species whatever; and that the seeds 

 from it also,where perfect, and the flowers fertilised by their own pollen, will 

 produce plants as true as will the most distinct species, and with no more 

 variation than is observed in other species. Those people who pretend 

 that they will return back in time to one of the original species, speak 

 only as they wish, without knowing any thing of the matter ; and I have 

 not the least doubt in my own mind, but that a great part of the plants 

 from tropical countries, where insects and the humming-birds are so plen- 

 tiful, are of hybrid origin. How is it possible to be otherwise, as they are 

 continually flying from flower to flower and from tree to tree, carrying the 

 pollen from one to the other? Besides, in a great number of plants (more, 

 I believe, than otherwise,) the stamens are dropped or have shed their 

 pollen before the stigma is far enough advanced to receive it ; so that they 

 are obliged for their pollen to some other flower ; and it is nearly as likely 

 to be from a distinct species, as from one of its own. This is the case 

 with the greater part of the species of Pelargonium and Amaryllis, and 

 many other genera ;_ which accounts for so many natural mules, and for their 

 being frequently raised in our gardens without any trouble having been 

 taken with them for that purpose: but where pains are taken to keep them 

 shut up in a house out of the reach of insects, it is easy to get numerous 

 very distinct mules ; and at that time, while fertilising them'with the pollen 

 of other species, any person acquainted with it can say to a shade what co- 

 lour the flowers will be, also the form of the leaves, and the habit of the 

 plant J and what you may still consider more surprising is, that when a mule 

 is produced from 'two very distinct species, its anthers frequently are all 

 sterile, but the stigmas are generally perfect, and those flowers fertilised by 

 the pollen of another species will produce perfect seed. The plants from 

 those seeds will again become perfect, bearing anthers full of perfect 

 pollen, and seeding of themselves as freely as any species whatever ; so 



