
KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL, 153 
anothet more handsome, I would make the cross 
upon the latter. I cannot speak with certainty 
from my own experiments how far perfume may 
be so communicated ; but I have some things far 
advanced to maturity to test it; and I entertain 
the hope that fragrance may not only be so 1m- 
parted, but even'heightened, varied, and improved. 
Or if it be desired to transfer all, or any 
valuable property or quality, from a tender exotic 
species to a native or hardy kind, work upon the 
latter; for so far as constitution goes, 1 agree 
with those who hold that the female overrules in 
this particular. I would offer this caution to 
those who wish to preserve the purity of certain 
flowers for exhibition, especially those having 
white grounds, not to cross such with high 
colored sorts. 
I once spoiled a pure white bloomed Calceolaria 
for exhibition, by crossing it with a crimson sort ; 
all the blooms on those branches where the 
operation had been performed, being stained red, 
and not the few flowers merely on which the 
cross was effected. In this note, already too 
long, I cannot further illustrate my remarks, by 
recorded experiments in the various tribes upon 
which I have tried my hand; but I cannot leave 
the subject without inculcating, in the strongest 
manner, the observance of the rules I have laid 
down to prevent vexatious disappointments. If 
any doubts arise about the cross being genuine 
or effectually secured, let not the seeds be sown. 
Three, four, five, and even six years, must often- 
times elapse with trees and shrubby things, ere 
the result can be judged of; and if eventually it 
prove a failure, or even doubtful, it is worse than 
labor lost, inasmuch as it may mislead. If there 
is no great departure from the female parent, the 
issue is to be mistrusted. It is singular, if well 
accomplished, how much of both parents is blended 
in the progeny. 
Gentlemen eminent as pliysiologists have read 
nature’s laws in these matters a little differently 
from what my own humble experience has taught 
me, and assigned to the progeny the constitution 
and general aspect of the one parent ; while they 
gave the inflorescence and fruit to the other. I 
have crossed and inverted the cross, and can 
venture to give no evidence on the point, except, 
perhaps, as to cotstitution, to which the seed- 
bearer, I think, contributes most. A well- 
managed hybrid should and will blend both 
parents into a distinct intermediate, insomuch 
as to produce often what might pass for a new 
species. If the leaning be to one more than 
another, it is probably to the female, though this 
will not always be the case. Again, itis asserted 
that a proper hybrid—i.e., one species which is 
crossed with another species, which is separate 
and distinct from it—will produce no fertile seeds. 
This does not accord with my observations. My 
hybrid, Veronica Balfouriana (an intermediate 
between V. saxatilis and V. fruticulosa), seeds, I 
would say, more abundantly than either parent ; 
and the progeny from its self-sown seeds I find to 
be of various shades of blue, violet, and red, rising 
in my garden—some having actually larger, finer, 
and higher-colored blooms than the parent 
bearing the seed; and I am familiar with the 
same result in other things. 
Yet I am far from asserting fertility in the 




produce between two members of allied but 
distinct genera—such, for example, as in the 
Prianthus, which I have found to be unproduc- 
tive. whether employed as the male or female 
parent. As above conjectured, its parents were 
far too remote in nature’s own arrangement. The 
hybridist has a field before him ever suggestive of 
new modes of acting. He may try, as I have 
done, what may be effected under various -tinited 
glass. My persuasion is, that I effected from a 
pale yellow a pure white-grounded Calceolaria, 
by placing the plants under blue shaded glass, by 
which the sun’s rays were much subdued. He 
may also apply chemical solutions to plants with 
ripening seeds. @ 
Nature, in producing, as it sometimes does, 
plants with blooms of colors opposite to those of 
the parent, must be governed by some law. Why 
may not this law be found out? For example, 
under what influence was the first white Fuchsia, 
the F. Venus Victrix, produced—the purest yet of 
all the race, and the source from which all the 
whites have been derived ? 
We shall not attempt to offer any apology 
for the length of this article. It demands, 
from its importance, all the space it occu- 
pies. 
A CYCLOPADIA oF POETICAL QUOTATIONS. 
Edited by H.G. Apams. 12mo. Groom. 
bridge and Sons. 
This little volume may be regarded as a 
valuable addition to our existing works of 
poetical entertainment and instructive know- 
ledge. In alphabetical arrangement we have 
choice passages, on a multitude of subjects, 
selected from the poets of every age and 
country; the whole presenting a poetical 
dictionary, aptly constructed for ready and 
constant reference. 
The taste of the selector is unquestionably 
good; and we envy him much the sweet- 
smelling groves of poesy through which he 
must have wandered, whilst culling so many 
and such elegant blossoms. Turn where you 
will, each page is set with a profusion of 
literary gems. 
We are glad to hear that the success of 
this work has been great; and that, in con- 
sequence, a similar Cyclopzedia of Sacred 
Poetical Quotations is about to be published in 
12 monthly Parts. We have seen the first 
part ; and it gives excellent promise for the 
future. 
“USE IS SECOND NATURE.” 

How often do we see the truth of this well- 
known adage confirmed in practices and habits 
that are evil! Why should it extend so far only ? 
Surely this is wrong. 
We cannot help enforcing upon the minds of 
all our readers—a most choice company truly— 
that a habit of poIne Goop soon becomes 
“natural ”’-—and what pleasure it does bring with 
The | yet. 

