NEW CREATIONS IN PLANT LIFE 
raised and crossed the amaryllis, but only for 
curiosity’s sake and on a small scale. But soon 
the results promised that more labor and ex- 
pense bestowed upon them would in the end 
be well rewarded. Then he commenced the 
development more systematically and turned 
his attention to the propagation of very de- 
cided properties,—larger flowers, but, espe- 
cially, more flowers on the same stem, and next 
to that, all those characteristics which would 
give more rapid development and a larger re- 
productive power. Some bulbs which, when 
starting the experiment, produced only five or 
six bulbs, were forced by crossing with more 
fertile species and a careful selection to double 
the number of bulbs, while at the same time, 
the bulbs were increased in size and threw out 
stronger stems and fuller flowers. 
“But what was the most remarkable was 
the shortening of the duration of life, from 
seed to seed, as it is called. I mean the num- 
ber of years which a seedling requires before 
it blossoms and produces seed. It is clear how 
much this includes. If. after every crossing 
there elapse four or five years before the result 
may be judged by the one flower, all that time 
74 
