ON CROSSES AND HYBRID INTERMIXTURES. 



139 



seventy, attended the administration of the ordeal to five of her children in one day, all grown up 

 and having families. The first was proved innocent : the mother rejoiced almost to ecstacy ! but 

 ere the day had closed she had to mourn hi anguish over three cut off out of the five, and their 

 orphan children committed to her feeble care. 



I could add more ; excuse me for having trespassed thus much on your time, and forgive me 

 in saying that, as I know you have long been the friend of Madagascar (and I know how 

 Madagascar needs the efforts of the friends of humanity), I trust you will continue to countenance 

 every eligible means for rescuing the five millions of inhabitants" of the island from such 

 revolting cruelties, and for elevating them to the enjoyment of the benefits of civilization and 

 Christianity. 



I am, my dear Sir, with the utmost cordiality, &c. 



J. F. Freeman. 



ON CROSSES AND HYBRID INTERMIXTURES. 



We offered some observations in our last number on the interesting subject 

 of hybridizing, and at the same time made some extracts relative to this curious 

 practice from the very valuable work on the Amaryllidacea, by the Hon. and 

 Rev. W. Herbert. We are induced, in the present number, to submit to the 

 notice of our readers some additional remarks obtained from the same source : — 

 " With respect to the conditions, stated by Professor Rennie, as necessary to 

 ensure success in crossing vegetables, it must be observed," says Mr. Herbert, 

 " that the first, namely, that blossoms should be nearly in the same state of 

 advancement, is not accurate ; for in some kinds, as for instance, Calceolaria, 

 that which is to bear the seed should be much less advanced than that from 

 which the dust is taken ; and in others, as in Pelargonium and Alstrcemeria, it 

 should be much more advanced. In truth, the moment should be seized, when 

 the stigma in the flower which is to bear the seed, and the pollen in the other, 

 is in perfection. The second condition stated, that the anthers should be cut out 

 early in the morning, is equally liable to objection, and cannot be applicable to 

 all flowers, some of which blow in the morning, and others in the afternoon or 

 evening. The necessary condition is that the anthers be removed from the flower 

 that is to produce the seed before the dust can escape from them ; for which 

 purpose in many cases, as for instance in Crocus, Erica tetralix, and others, the 

 flower must be opened with great difficulty at a very early stage. The plant 

 must be then placed in a situation where no natural dust can reach it, brought 

 either by the wind or by insects ; and the pollen from another flower, which is in 

 perfection and not beginning to wither, must be applied to the stigma as soon 

 as it is quite developed and mature, or rather sooner. The success of such experi- 

 ments is always most probable when the plant which is to be fertilized has been 

 forced, and no natural pollen can be brought to it accidentally from other plants ; 

 and by forcing one of the intended parents, those which flower at different 

 seasons may be made to intermix. But it should be always remembered that, 

 except in cases where the anthers are very accessible, and not mature till after 

 the expansion of the flower, it is almost impossible to be quite certain that no 

 particle shall escape from them in the operation. It is incorrectly stated that 



