THE FLORIST. 
235 
ON RAISING CROSS-BRED PLANTS. 
It is surprising, considering the interesting nature of the pursuit, 
that there are so few persons engaged in the hybridising of plants, 
and that few mainly consisting of those who confine their atten¬ 
tion to what are called “ show-flowers.” If the art were difficult, 
and success hopelessly rare, the scanty numbers of its followers 
might readily be accounted for; but seeing that it is a game both 
easy and pleasant, and all the players at it winners, the reason for so 
small a number being devoted to the pleasurable pursuit becomes 
less obvious. Yes, all are winners; for if there be some whose en¬ 
deavours have not been rewarded with a novelty, they have never¬ 
theless enjoyed that greatest blessing of mankind—the pleasure of 
hope. There is no fear, however, that a person of moderate skill, of 
common sense, and with a slight botanical acquaintance with plants, 
would fail to prove that a well-grounded hope may be realised. 
If such a one is at a loss for new subjects on which to try his 
maiden skill, there is no reason to suppose, from what already has been 
done, that he may not produce novelties from the old ones. Though 
the writer got similar results from twice crossing Lonicera pubescens 
with L. sempervirens, he has this year two very distinct productions 
from fertilising Potentilla leucochroa with P. formosa. One of these 
mules has a scarlet flower, and the other flowers of yellow ground, 
variously stained with red on all but the middle part of each petal, 
some being slightly and others more deeply tinged. Here, then, is 
pink upon yellow producing scarlet; and in another instance the co¬ 
lours struggle for superiority, and refuse to combine; whilst yellow 
upon pink, as in the example of Potentilla tormentilla-formosa, 
gave such a union of colours as might be obtained by mixing paints 
of similar hues. Mr. Maund procured a result of the same kind in 
his P. atrosanguinea-pedata. 
As the Editor of the Gardeners’ Chronicle has recommended the 
crossing of various Honeysuckles, it may prove serviceable to say, tliat 
the operator upon such plants should attend every evening about eight 
o’clock to cut out the stamens of such flowers as seem ready, or nearly 
ready, to disclose them, which may be easily ascertained by gently 
twisting the end of the tube, when, should it be ripe for a disclosure, 
the segments will be unlocked and stand asunder. The same writer 
considers it desirable, too, that the sweet-scented Honeysuckles should 
be married to the Trumpet Honeysuckle, in the hope of a rich union 
of fragrance and colour being effected in the expected produce. This 
has been accomplished already, the L. Caprifolium having been ferti¬ 
lised in May, or early in June, wdth L. sempervirens, and with such 
success, that berries have been obtained from the union, and com¬ 
mitted to the earth with every probability of proving the practica¬ 
bility of procuring a progeny combining the good properties of the 
parents. The Dutch Honeysuckle was tried -with the Trumpet Ho¬ 
neysuckle last year; but though a few berries were produced, the 
seed if any, has not come up. It has also been tried again this year ; 
