ON HYBRIDIZATION AMONGST VEGETABLES. 



89 



gerous marplots to such experiments. The showy G. Natalensis 

 (called also Psittacinus) of the Natal country, which endures 

 more frost than any of the Southern Gladioli, though it suffers 

 much from July rains in many positions, has been freely crossed 

 by myself, by Mr. Belfield, by Mr. Bidwill, and by cultivators 

 on the Continent, with G. oppositiflorus, a Madagascar plant, 

 found perhaps also in Caffraria, and often called improperly in 

 the shops floribundus, an old name for a very different plant. 

 The cross named G. Gandavi (for the adjective name Ganda- 

 vensis to a garden cross is very objectionable) has been figured 

 in the beautiful Ghent periodical work of M. Van Houtte and 

 his fellow-labourers in botanic and horticultural science. It is 

 there stated most erroneously to have been raised between Nata- 

 lensis and Cardinalis. It flowered at Ghent for the first time in 

 Europe, the soil and climate being much more congenial to 

 Gladioli there than at Spofforth and in the west of England, 

 but some of the seedlings raised in Devonshire and taken to 

 Sydney had flowered earlier. Abundance of beautiful seedlings 

 have been raised here and abroad between cardinalis and oppo- 

 sitiflorus, and vice versa, many of which have been sent over 

 from the Continent under the name G. ramosus, as if they were 

 plants of a natural species. Those from abroad have generally 

 perished soon here, the soil and climate being too damp, but my 

 own seedlings, probably the opposite cross, have a much stronger 

 constitution, more variety of colour, and have this season ripened 

 much seed. This statement might perhaps induce the reader to 

 think all the species easily convertible ; but it is not so. If I am 

 asked why, I can only say, that the ways of God are not as our 

 ways, and are past finding out. The cross erroneously stated to 

 have been made between G. Natalensis and cardinalis, if not 

 absolutely impossible, is so difficult, that repeated attempts made 

 during successive years by myself, and by J. Trevor Alcock, 

 Esq., who interested himself in this matter, and probably by 

 many others, have all proved abortive ; and no cross has been 

 effected, as far as I know, between G. Natalensis and any species 

 from the Cape territory, although both Natalensis and the Cape 

 species mix readily with the Madagascar plant. I am now 

 trying whether the cross G. Gandavi, being half-blood, will 

 mingle with the Cape species, and the result is not yet quite 

 certain. I lately set nine flowers of G. oppositiflorus with pollen 

 of G. hirsutus. Large pods were readily produced, but unex- 

 pectedly they proved to contain only chaff and perishing kernels, 

 the fertilization having perhaps extended to the seed-vessel and 

 the outer coat of all the ovules, without having vivified them ; 

 but I believe one frosty night in August caused the failure. 

 Five equally fine pods were produced at the same time on a 



