20G JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



view, some to the other ; I suspect cross-fertilising by some other 

 nearly-allied species gave the first varietal forms. 



The Gladiolus is another favourite garden flower which has 

 been much improved by cross-fertilisation. The late Dean 

 Herbert published a book on bulbs just sixty years ago, and 

 therein gives an interesting account of his efforts in cross-fertilis- 

 ing the Gladiolus. He made many crosses with distinct species, 

 which he has recorded in his book, but he did not advise his 

 readers to rest there. He says : " It is not, however, by crossing 

 different species, or local varieties of plants only, that the culti- 

 vator may add to the beauty of his collection. Much may be 

 done, undoubtedly, by crossing judiciously the finest seminal 

 varieties of such plants as have already been improved in our 

 gardens, and are disposed to break into a multiplicity of forms 

 and colours." Dean Herbert is undoubtedly right. It is by first 

 hybridising nearly-allied species, and then by saving seeds from 

 the progeny and selecting from the plants resulting therefrom, 

 that our garden favourites have been so greatly improved. 

 Whenever variation has once been obtained, cross-fertilisation 

 may be proceeded with to obtain further garden varieties. 



It is thus that so much of beauty has been obtained in the 

 Carnation and other garden flowers by amateurs who make one 

 particular flower their study, and perseveringly work upon it year 

 after year, not disheartened by failure nor unduly elated by 

 success. I may be allowed to allude to the Eev. F. D. Horner 

 as an Auricula specialist, Mr. Martin R. Smith as a lover of Car- 

 nations, and the Rev. G. H. Engleheart who has taken such 

 infinite pains with the Narcissus. These gentlemen, and others 

 like them, have, by years of perseverance, accomplished each a 

 work that may last for generations yet unborn. 



I know something of the Carnation myself, and have watched 

 the progress made by Mr. Martin R. Smith, in his garden at 

 Hayes. There is an accurate record kept of the result of all the 

 various crosses, and much knowledge of a permanent kind has 

 thus been treasured up for future use. 



The old florists did good work in their days. Take the 

 Carnation, for instance. I find it is stated in Rea's " Flora," 

 published in 1G7G, that many fine varieties had already gone out 

 of existence or had been pushed aside for new and improved 

 varieties. Rea enumerates 3G0 varieties of Carnations in culti- 



