24 
J;)IJKXAL OF THE KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
III. 
I reach, at last, my illustrations, and I beg to point out that any com- 
plete enumeration of the cases to be brought under each class is here 
impossible. Examples only are given. I arrange them in classes 
according to their behaviour, and 1 take hybrids first because they seem to 
need a champion. Hybrid origin, for the moment, appears to me to be in 
discredit ; but I am quite sure that we cannot deny the hybrid origin of 
species in nature, and I am equally sure that we must not minimise the 
possibilities of hybridising in gardens, however often and clearly it may 
have been shown that some reputed hybrids are not hybrids at all. An 
experienced friend of mine wrote to me : " I do not know of a hybrid 
reproducing itself true from seed. Do you ? " Well, I thought I did 
know of some, and I feel sure that some instances I have to give are un- 
deniable. I mention this incident in order to show that such instances are 
well worth giving. In the following list I have endeavoured to give as 
much independent witness as possible in order that as little as need be 
might rest on the possible bias of my own opinion. 
A. — Hybbids. 
1. — Bigeneric hybrid, very fertile, and quite true from seed. 
Monthrctia crocosiiiiceflora {M. Pottsii $ x Tritonia aurea). — These 
parents have never, I believe, been placed together in the same genus by 
any author. On the authority of Mons. E. Lemoine and Mons. Mottetthe 
hybrid comes true from seed. The former believes that colour variations 
could easily be fixed were it not desired to obtain as much variety as 
possible. This, in my opinion, is not open to question. 
2. — Bigeneric hybrids,* infertile so far as known. Aloe Lynchi {A. 
albo-ciiicta $ x Gasteria verrucosa), Urceocharis Clibrani (Eucharis 
grandiflora ? x Urceolina aurea), PJiilageria Veitchi (Lapageria 
rosea $ x Philesia huxifolia). 
3. — Species hybrids true from seed [i.e. never reverting, even when 
variable, to either parent). I have not distinguished the hybrids that 
vary in colour from those which do not vary, because pure species are 
liable to vary as does the hybrid. For instance, in Devon I have found 
Primroses in masses of red shades, as well as of yellow colour. Colour 
variations, too, appear, as a rule, to fix easily. 
Aquilegia cceruleo-chrysajitha. — Vouched by Mons. Mottet,of Verrieres. 
Aquilegia Stuarti (A. glandtdosa x Witmamiif). — This hybrid has 
been got from seed by Dr. Stuart for the last twenty years. 
Begonia, the tuberous kinds (B. Veitchi, B. Pearcei, B. boliviensist 
&c.). — The parent species here mentioned are absolutely distinct as 
species. Of the hybrids those with yellow flowers or with marbled 
leaves show the influence of B. Pearcei, while still largely consisting of 
B. Veitchi. Messrs Sutton & Sons inform me that at least 90 per cent, 
come true, even to colour, from seed. 
* For further list of bigeneric hybrids see " Propagation and Improvement of 
Plants," by F. W. Bmbidge, p. 135. 
f = Agidlegia vulgaris, var. olympica (Boiss.). 
