a.pril— sept. 1859.] Proceedings. 



223 



Read letter from Mr. A. T. JafTrey, presenting Six Copies of 

 the " Calendar of Operations," being No. 5 of his " Hints to 

 Amateur Gardeners." 



Resolved, that the thanks of the Society be conveyed to Mr. 

 JafFrey. This pamphlet promises to be useful to Gardeners, and 

 gives in a convenient form the leading particulars necessary to the 

 cultivation of the ordinary descriptions of European and Indian 

 flowers, fruits and vegetables. 



Read the following which has been placed at the disposal of 

 the Society by Government. 



Memorandum on the hybridizing of Cotton, &c. 



As the improvement and increase of Cotton cultivation is occu- 

 pying a prominent place amongst the passing events of the day, 

 information from all available quarters will undoubtedly be sought 

 for. 



And as the theory of cross impregnating the variety cultivated 

 in this country, with exotic varieties of Gossypium or (vice versa) 

 has been brought under consideration a few practical remarks at 

 the present junction may be useful. 



It is well known to such as are acquainted with the Horticul- 

 tural world that important advantages have been obtained by 

 cross breeding, the amelioration of fruits, flowers and vegetables, 

 in England and elsewhere has proved beyond a doubt that the 

 vegetable kingdom is susceptible of receiving sexual impressions 

 when the plants manipulated upon combine a versimilitude of 

 structure, &c, that is to say when species of the same genera are 

 acted upon such as cotton with cotton, apples with apples, &c. 



Hybridizing is probably one of the most important items in 

 Horticulture in a commercial point of view, and with all due de- 

 ference to the suggestions of impregnating varieties of cotton for 

 the purpose of improving the staple article of the country, and ob- 

 taining hardier varieties, a difference of opinion, it is trusted, will 

 not be considered in the light of attempting to throw cold water 

 upon the theory brought forth by them, no doubt cotton will re- 

 ceive sexual impressions equally with other genera and species in 

 the vegetable kingdom, and could undoubtedly be multiplied into 

 innumerable varieties. What could be accomplished, would no 

 doubt be invaluable towards proving the affinity of different cot- 



