BOTANY. 223 
down to that of the fathers of modern chemistry, Lavoisier, 
Priestley and others, but not including their works. Those who 
know nothing of chemistry will find this account entertaining. 
The illustrations will add to its interest. 
Nortn American Morus.*—The 8th and 9th parts of Mr. 
Stretch’s interesting illustrations, completing vol. i, have appeared 
with three plates, the last of larvae, some of them’ only tolerably 
well drawn, but of great interest.” Though the work is partly a 
~ compilation, yet mnch original matter is incorporated, and it is 
the only manual we have of the most. interesting portion of our. 
moth-fauna. Several new species, western and Pacific, are de- 
scribed and figured. 
BOTANY... 
INVESTIGATIONS RESPECTING THE FERTILIZATION OF ABUTILON.— 
The complete sterility of certain plants with pollen from the same 
flower (Corydalis cava), or even from all flowers from the same , 
stock (species of Abutilon, Bignonia, Oncidium, ete.), is only a re- 
markable case under the law that self- fertilization gives rise to 
weaker ‚descendants than crossing. And, further, this law, of 
which a proof is afforded by every flower which, through the at- 
traction of odor or color, invites bees or butterflies to the enjoy- 
ment of honey, and thereby to the accomplishment of crossing, 
is only a particular case under the more general law, viz ;— that 
close breeding in-and-in between near relations is productive of 
_ Mischief; for speaking of individual cases, anthers and pistil of 
the same individual plant, er the same flower, are the closest con- 
ceivable relatives. 
A still more general scope can be given to the last law if we 
comprise i in it, also, the diminution of fertility, which, in all degrees 
even to complete sterility, occurs as a consequence of close rela- 
tionship of the plants crossed, and in the union of hybrids. Every 
plant, so to speak, requires for the production of the strongest pos- 
sible and most prolific progeny, a certain amount of difference be- 
_ tween male and female procreative elements which unite. Fertility 
is diminished as well when this degree i is too low (in relatives too 
re * Illustrations of the Zygenide and Bombycide of North America. By R. D. 
y Stretch. Vol. A, parts: 8 and che sore last). San Francisco, Cal., — 8vo., pp. 185-242. 
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