422 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



well corked, for several days without losing its power. Microscopical 

 examination of pollen grains will show whether they are fit for use : if 

 nearly alike they will do ; if very different, fertilisation will not be possible. 

 In the majority of cases hybrids have larger flowers than their parents. 

 Herr Leichtlin states that in eight cases out of ten the female parent has 

 the greater influence over the form of the offspring, while the male gives 

 colour. It should, however, be noted that this statement is not confirmed 

 by recent scientific experiments. In cases of Mendelian dominance, for 

 instance, it is obvious that the character is dominant whether it is intro- 

 duced by the male or the female parent. The fact is that no general 

 rule can be laid down in this matter, as either sex may appear to dominate 

 simply because it happens to carry the dominant character. 



Classification of Hybrids. By E. I. Lynch, of England. 



This paper suggests the desirability of classifying hybrids according 

 to their behaviour rather than on the lines of botanical classification. 



Mr. Lynch believes that such a classification would be valuable for 

 reference, and would assist in the determination of laws yet unknown. 

 To illustrate his point, Mr. Lynch mentions the following headings : — 

 Bigeneric hybrids, fertile and true from seed ; Bigeneric hybrids infertile ; 

 Hybrids which come true from seed, never reverting ; Hybrids .that are 

 more fertile than either parent ; Hybrids which return in a generation or 

 two to parent species, &c. The classification of hybrids according to 

 their individual behaviour would undoubtedly be of great value, if care- 

 fully carried out, and it is to be hoped that Mr. Lynch will continue his 

 work in that direction notwithstanding, as he himself says, that the 

 behaviour of hybrids may be infinite in point of variety. 



Some of the Fundamental Principles of Plant Breeding. 

 By Luther Burbank, of California. 



In considering the principles of plant breeding, Mr. Burbank sees two 

 controlling influences or forces, heredity and environment. The sole 

 object of the breeder is to guide the interaction of these two forces. " To 

 nature's persistence in crossing we owe all that the earth now produces in 

 man, animals, and plants." "Natural and artificial crossing and 

 hybridising are among the principal remote causes of nearly all, otherwise 

 perplexing or unaccountable, sports and strange modifications, and also of 

 many of the now well-established species." Distinct new species can be 

 produced by the plant-breeder with the same precision that machinery is 

 produced by the mechanic. The variations of plants are simply the 

 means they employ in adjusting themselves to external conditions. They 

 must adapt themselves or perish. Plant breeding is in its earliest infancy, 

 and is the intelligent application of the forces of the human mind in 

 guiding the inherent life forces into useful directions by crossing. 



A general knowledge of the relations and affinities of plants is not a 

 sufficient equipment for the successful breeder ; he must be a skilful 

 botanist and biologist, and, having a definite plan, must be able to 

 correctly estimate the action of the inherent and external forces which he 

 would guide. 



