POPULAR BOTANY. 467 
Most of the trees will bear fruits similar to those of their mother, 
but many others will be similar to their father ; frequently they stand 
between both of them. Sometimes, however, some few trees will pro- 
duce fruits which have not the remotest similarity to either of their 
parents, or any other variety of apples known. These we call a new 
variety, which will be named by the raiser, and frequently command 
very high prices. In this way, all the innumerable varieties of apples, 
pears, peaches, cherries, camellias, roses, dahlias, carnations, potatoes, 
carrots, cabbages, &c, were produced ; and the larger the number of 
good varieties is already, the more difficult it becomes to produce some- 
thing new, which shall differ from all existing varieties, and surpass 
them in beauty or usefulness. 
The law according to which these changes take place has not been 
discovered yet. In order to meet with a certain success we have to work 
on a large scale, and leave to our good luck what it has in store for us. 
One certain condition of the act of hybridizing is, that the two plants 
operated on must belong to the same kind, genus, or at least to the same 
family or tribe. 
The preceding statements will suffice to prove the high importance 
of the vegetable kingdom in regard to our bodily wants, as well as our 
spiritual employments. 
I cannot omit to recommend strongly to the rising generation the 
importance of forming collections of natural objects, particularly 
plants, in the shape of a so-called herbarium. 
Love for such objects drives young people into the free and pure air, 
forces them into healthy bodily exercise, teaches them to stedfastly pur- 
sue a fixed aim, and prepares them pleasantly for the future and more 
arduous duties of life. Beside all these, constant additions to their col- 
lections will afford them equal and often purer enjoyment and satisfac- 
tion than will many a successful speculation to a business man. Finally, 
they lay up for themselves a rich treasure of interesting and useful 
knowledge, and in doing so, are prevented from spending their time in 
the streets or in dangerous company — a consideration well worthy the 
attention of parents or those who act in their stead. 
vol. vi. 3 o 
