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JOURNAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and vigour Lave been over-lavishly expended in the sterner 

 struggles and duties of life, it offers the only species of repose 

 that an active mind can accept — a pleasurable occupation for hand 

 and head, flavoured by the condiments of expectation and hope. 



Though I can speak only from an experience of four years of 

 careful work in hybridising, I have seen and done enough to 

 prove beyond question that union among these opposite races is 

 a perfectly practicable thing. 



I have no right to expect the addition of many more seasons 

 to my own stock of seedlings ; but if life and sufficient health are 

 accorded to me, I hope before long to place in the hands of those 

 who care to tread the ground over which I have travelled, some 

 record of my steps, some details of manipulation, and some con- 

 clusions that may help them on their way. 



Discussion. 



Dr. Masters said that Lord Penzance practised what he 

 preached, for he exhibited at a recent meeting of the Society 

 various specimens as follows : — ■ 



Sweet Briar fertilised by the pollen of H.P. La Souveraine. 



Sown November 1885, seedling came up in January 1886. 

 Sweet Briar fertilised with H.C. William Jesse, came up 

 January 1886. 



Sweet Briar fertilised with pollen from H.B. Paul Ricaut. 



Sweet Briar fertilised with pollen from H.C. William Jesse. 



Luxemburg Moss fertilised with H.P. Princess Christian. 

 Seed sown 1884, came up in February 1885. 

 His lordship seemed to have completely grasped one of the 

 most important objects which the promoters of the Conference 

 had in view. If gardeners and florists had done so much by 

 mingling two or three, or at the outside, half-a-dozen species, 

 what might they not do if they took more of the 50 or 60 

 species instead of the two or three '? In the future they might 

 get beauties which they did not dream of at present. 



Mr. Fish said while they could not use Hybrid Perpetuals as 

 parents they often found pollen amongst them. He did not 

 agree with Lord Penzance's remarks on the Bourbon rose ; 

 their perfume was rather curious, but they could not be called 

 sweet roses. 



Mr. Mawley said they owed a debt to Lord Penzance for his 



