CROSS-FERTILISATION OF FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



211 



must have a standard of excellence before him, and the qualities 

 or points he aims at must be in the parents ; in both, if possible, 

 but certainly in the pollen parent. Those intending to begin the 

 culture of any florists' flower, and wishing to produce seedlings, 

 will find the points of quality faithfully described in a recent 

 publication of this Society entitled " Rules for Judging." 



Another point I would like to bring forward, and, if possible, 

 would like to have some discussion upon, is whether there is a 

 point beyond which we can no further go. I not only believe 

 there is, but bring some evidence in support of my contention. 

 There is a picture of a bizarre Carnation taken by Sydenham 

 Edwards 110 years ago ; and the leading grower and raiser of 

 this class of Carnation assures me that it is not yet surpassed. 

 The Grey- edged Auricula 'George Lightbody ' was raised from 

 cross-fertilised seed fifty or sixty years ago, and cultivators north 

 and south have been trying ever since to raise a better grey-edge, 

 but have not succeeded in so doing. I do not for one moment 

 allege that we can go no further in any direction with either 

 Carnations or Auriculas. For in Self and Fancy Carnations, and 

 Yellow-ground Picotees, there is still much to be done before 

 any flower can be named perfection ; but in some directions, 

 notably in those I have mentioned, it almost seems as if we 

 could not advance further. All the more reason that we should 

 branch out in new directions, and continue to work on steadily 

 and perseveringly in those directions where improvement is mani- 

 festly still possible. 



It is not altogether easy work, for, besides the difficulty in 

 raising new varieties better than the old, there are so many 

 insect pests and fungoid diseases which must be fought and con- 

 quered. Our Carnations have the wire-worm boring the stem 

 below ground, and the maggot above ground. Fungoid diseases, 

 in winter of one kind, and another species in summer. The 

 Auriculas have the woolly aphis, which is more than enough, 

 and the Hollyhock is decimated year after year by a horrible 

 fungus which attacks the leaves, and follows the plant every- 

 where. I verily believe if Hollyhock seed was taken and sown 

 in Nova Zembla or in Patagonia the Puccinia malvacearum 

 would be found ready waiting to attack the plants. But nothing 

 daunts the enthusiastic amateur or the real lover of plants ; his 

 failures or successes are but stepping-stones to the point upon 



