18 



ON HYBRIDIZATION AMONGST VEGETABLES. 



and accepted genus, and no such genus could be brought to 

 mind. I therefore, though with great hesitation, separated gene- 

 rically Choretis, which differed also like Ismene in bearing a 

 globular seed that produced a bulb underground, not vegetating 

 upwards till after a season of rest. I am now satisfied by the 

 cross-breeding in the genus Narcissus, of which the sections 

 (supposed to have been genera) are distinguished by greater 

 diversity of stamens, that Choretis is not a genus, but a sub-genus 

 or remarkable section of Hymenocallis. In the like manner I 

 am satisfied that my late brother's gardener, Mr. Carton, now re- 

 siding with the Duke of Northumberland, raised at Highclere 

 two beautiful mules between Hymenocallis speciosa and Ismene 

 calathina, and I am thereby convinced that, notwithstanding their 

 diversity of form and habits, Ismene is also to be considered as a 

 sub-genus or section of Hymenocallis. Such is the rectification 

 of my own botanical views : but the matter does not rest there. 

 If I have here retrodden my steps justly, the professors of the 

 science on all sides must check their course a little, and retrace 

 an infinity of crooked windings, and look not merely to petty 

 differences, but to the general bearing of their sub-divisions. 

 This very day a statement has issued from the pen of a most able 

 botanist, that no doubt can exist of the propriety of accepting 

 the generic separation of Spartium spinosum of Linnseus, alias 

 Cytisus spinosus of Lamarck, as called Calycotome spinosa by 

 Link, on account of " deciduous teeth and a truncated mem- 

 branous edge to a calyx subtended by a bract," and its ranging 

 with " stiff, spiny, yellow-flowered bushes ;" and the establish- 

 ment of a genus Retama for some sorts of Spartium, Syspone of 

 Genista, Lembotropis of Cytisus ; and the restoration of Labur- 

 num as a genus is approved. I have not a word to say against 

 the establishment of such subordinate classifications, as a matter 

 of convenience ; but if it is meant to exalt such distinctions into 

 genera or original limitations of kinds created by the Almighty, 

 I must protest against it as a total subversion of the true sub- 

 stance of botany ; and I am persuaded that my distinguished 

 friend does not so mean it, and has not sufficiently considered the 

 consequences of thus blending great and insurmountable sepa- 

 rations with lesser and subordinate variations. We have actu- 

 ally a mule between Cytisus Laburnum and purpureus, of which 

 I shall speak more particularly, and those he proposes at this 

 time of day to separate generically, for I presume that Cytisus 

 purpureus will not fall under Laburnum. I hope that these 

 observations may tend to draw the attention of botanists to 

 the invaluable aid the results of cross-breeding afford to their 

 labours, at the same time that they may excite the cultivator of 

 plants to take the high station he ought amongst the scientific 



