ON HYBRIDIZATION AMONGST VEGETABLES. 



7 



the use of hybridizing experiments, which I have invariably sug- 

 gested ; for if I can produce a fertile offspring between two 

 plants that botanists have reckoned fundamentally distinct, I 

 consider that I have shown them to be one kind ; and indeed I 

 am inclined to think that, if a well-formed and healthy offspring 

 proceeds at all from their union, it would be rash to hold them of 

 distinct origin. We see every clay the wide range of seminal 

 diversities in our gardens. We have known the dahlias from a 

 poor single dull-coloured flower break into superior forms and 

 brilliant colours ; we have seen a carnation, by the reduplication 

 of its calyx, acquire almost the appearance of an ear of wheat, and 

 look like a glumaceous plant ; we have seen hollyhocks in their 

 generations branch into a variety of colours, which are repro- 

 duced by the several descendants with tolerable certainty. We 

 cannot therefore say that the order to multiply after their kind 

 meant that the produce should be precisely similar to the original 

 type; and, if the type was allowed to reproduce itself with vari- 

 ation, who can pretend to say how much variation the Almighty 

 allowed ? Who can say that His glorious scheme for peopling 

 and clothing the earth was not the creation of a certain number 

 of original animals and vegetables, predestined by Him in their 

 reproduction to exhibit certain variations, which should hereafter 

 become fixed characters, as well as those variations which even 

 now frequently arise and are nearly fixed characters, but not 

 absolutely so, and those which are more variable and very subject 

 to relapse in reproduction ? 



Let me suppose that the Almighty perhaps originally created 

 an individual plant of each natural order extinct and ex- 

 isting, supposing the natural orders to be correctly set forth, 

 and rectifying the errors which may require correction. What 

 proof can be offered that more individual vegetables were ori- 

 ginally created ? None ! It will perhaps be asserted that the 

 several individuals of different species or present form, which 

 are included in one order, could not have descended from one 

 original mother, because either they will not breed together, as 

 is usual with individuals of the same species ; or, if they do, their 

 offspring is sterile. Such used to be the assertion ; but it was 

 bare assertion, unsupported by proof. In the first place, the 

 fact is false in numberless instances; in the second, if it were 

 true, what proof can be given that no two things descended from 

 one origin can have become so diversified as to be now incapable 

 of a fertile union, or of producing that which will be fertile? 

 We are utterly in the dark as to the mystery of fertilization. 

 We know not by what wonderful secret contrivance the unsearch- 

 able wisdom of God has prevented the minute and almost imper- 

 ceptible grains of pollen from usually fertilizing any ovary but 



