*92 ANDERSON'S PEAOTICE. 



stigma may remain many days, during which fertilisation may be 

 performed : and this period will be longer or shorter as the weather is 

 sunny, or damp or overcast. In certain families, such as the Malvaoese, 

 Geraniaoese, &c., where the stigma divides itself into feathery parts, 

 and where the viscous process is either absent or inappreciable by the 

 eye, the separation of these parts, the bursting of the poUen, the matu- 

 rity of the stigma, and aU. which a little experience will detect, indicate 

 the proper time for the operation, sunny or cloudy weather always 

 affecting the duration of the period during which it may be successfully 

 performed. As to the proper time and season best adapted for such 

 experiments, a treatise might be written ; but here a few remarks must 

 suffice. As for the season of the year, from early spring to midsummer 

 I would aoooxm.t the best period ; but, as I have just observed, I regard 

 aU cold, damp, cloudy, and ungenial weather as unfavourable. On 

 the other hand, when the weather is genial, not so much from sun 

 heat as at times occurs from the atmosphere beiug moderately, charged 

 with electricity, when there ig an elasticity, so to speak, in the balmy 

 air, and all nature seems joyous and instruct with life, this, of all 

 others, is the season which the hybridist should improve, and above all 

 if he attempt muling. The hybridist should be provided with a pocket 

 lens, a pair of wire pincers, and various coloured silk threads. "With 

 the lens he will observe the maturity of the poUen and the condition of 

 the stigma, whether the former has attained its powdery, and the latter 

 (if such is its nature) its viscous condition. If he find both the pollen 

 and the stigma in a fit state, he will, with the pincers, apply an anther 

 with ripened pollen, and by the gentlest touch distribute it very thinly 

 over the summit of the stigma. The operation performed, he will 

 mark it by tying round the flower-stalk a bit of that particular coloured 

 s ilk thread which he wishes to indicate the particular plant which bore 

 the pollen, and at the same time tie a bit of the same sUk round the 

 stem of the latter, which wiU serve till recorded in a note-book, which 

 should be kept by every one trying experiments on a large scale. 



" It is quite unnecessary to offer any directions as to the results to 

 be effected. If it is desired to reproduce the larger, finer formed, or 

 higher coloured bloom of a plant having a tall, straggling, or too robust 

 a growth, or having too large or too coarse foliage in a plant without 

 these drawbacks, I need not suggest to select, in another species of the 

 same family, a plant of an opposite character and properties — say of 

 dwarf compact growth, handsome foliage, and free flowering habit; 

 and if such can be obtained, work with it, making the latter the seed- 

 bearer. Or, if it be desirable to impart the fragrance of a less hand- 

 some kind to another more handsome, I woiild make the cross upon the 

 latter. I cannot speak with certainty from my own experiments how far 

 perfume may be so oommunioated; but I have some things far advanced 

 to maturity to test it ; and I entertain the hope that fi:agrance may not 



