3H 



ON THE ARTIFICIAL IMPREGNATION OF FLOWERS. 



branches of trees, and seldom, except in a few instances, exceeding the height 

 of a few feet. But in the Tropics they assume a more gigantic character, tower- 

 ing to the summits of the loftiest trees, spreading from branch to branch, and 

 thus binding firmly together the most extensive forests. Staunton, in his account 

 of his embassy, says : — " It was difficult to get far into the Java forests from the 

 quantity of underwood, and the vast number of creeping plants, which form a 

 sort of net, supported by other trees, and are impassable without an instrument 

 to cut them. Some of them were likewise of great strength. One trailed along 

 the ground, in the manner of some of the Convolvulus kind, with a stalk about 

 an inch in diameter throughout, and of a length exceeding a hundred feet." 



Stedman also gives a most interesting account of the forests of Surinam, and 

 the voluble plants peculiar to that region ; which he describes as ascending to 

 the tops of trees, whence they again descend till they reach the ground, then 

 strike root, again ascend the nearest trees, and thus continue in endless suc- 

 cession to spread in all directions. Some he describes as resembling ropes of 

 various dimensions, which not unfrequently twine around each other till they 

 form ropes as thick as a ship's cable. Others are so crossed and interwoven as 

 to bear no small resemblance to fishing nets. Bartram, in his Travels, describes 

 the climbing plants of the forests of Georgia and Carolina as forming the most 

 beautiful garlands and festoons, and affording to the traveller the most enchant- 

 ing shades. 



Having given this hasty sketch of climbing plants, we shall endeavour, in a 

 future paper, to point out such of the more ornamental kinds as are to be met 

 with in cultivation in this country, and the purposes to which they may be most 

 appropriately applied in fancy-gardening. 



ON THE ARTIFICIAL IMPREGNATION OF FLOWERS. 



BY DAVID CAMERON, A.L.S., Botanic Garden, Edgbaston. 



Artificial impregnation of some plants that are shy in producing seeds is 

 essentially necessary, with a view of ensuring a supply to perpetuate the species ; 

 particularly of some annuals and biennials, and some shrubby New Holland 

 plants that are difficult of propagation from cuttings. Artificial impregnation 

 is readily effected by taking a fine camel-hair pencil and brushing it slightly 

 over the mature anthers that are burst open, until the hairs of the pencil become 

 coloured with the pollen, which must then be applied to those stigmas that are 

 in a mature state : when some of the pollen is seen adhering to the stigma, the 

 operation is complete. This may be performed on any dry day, from nine o'clock 

 until three or four. The whole process occupies but a short time, and a careful 

 observer will soon perceive its beneficial effects by the swelling of the capsules 

 of those flowers that have been impregnated. 



