82 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ April, 
Lobelias, Clarkias, and even Sweet Williams, do they not all point to culture ” 
—decades of culture, it may be, all-important in its ends, and in its 
capacity for improvement far beyond the vaunted results of hybridising. Wo 
know that persistence in seed-gathering and seed-sowing, which is but one form 
of asking Nature to unlock her stores of jewels, garnered of long cultivation, 
has given these results, but seedling manipulators have claimed them as being 
gained of intricate crossing, clever interbreeding, &:c., though they are as far 
beyond their reach in a majority of cases, as they exceed their expectations. 
Truly in past culture lies the riches of the florist, and he needs little but 
space of ground for seedlings, and time and means to grow and bloom them, to 
realise this truth. 
I admit that hybridising aids materially in producing new types, by the 
crossing of distinct species of plants, but it is not essential, if, indeed, requisite, 
for either the formation of double blossoms or the enlargement and rounding of 
the petals of existing varieties—including the improvement of existing types; 
while from a floral or culinary point of view, if it has had any influence 
in this direction, it is not nearly to the extent which is claimed. Long-con¬ 
tinued and good cultivation is the mainspring of two-thirds of the successes 
which are realised, so much so, that culture and actual improvement ought to be 
regarded as synonyms. That the selection of seedlings—following out the royal 
road of high cultivation—is necessary to insure the most rapid progress, 
none can doubt; for by this means culture and progression go hand-in- 
hand ; the means are acknowledged, and the reward, that is, the improvement, 
is hastened. 
If I have opened up a new channel of thought for young aspirants, let me 
also add that they can hardly hope to succeed thoroughly, unless they use 
judgment in the selection of subjects to operate upon—subjects that have been 
long under some kind of culture ; but having made their choice, let them feed 
and maintain the seed-parents in the richest of soils, throwing all the vigour of 
the plant into a few seeds,—that is, adopting high-culture as the best possible 
method of obtaining an improved progeny.— William Earley, Valentines. 
NOTES ON MELONS AND CUCUMBEKS. 
f qN the raising of so-called new varieties of Melons and Cucumbers, as in the 
3 making of books, there seems to be no limit. I believe, however, as regards 
Melons and Cucumbers, that the supply is overdone, for there is really no 
advance made at the present time, either as to quality or productive¬ 
ness. As far back as I can remember in Melon-growing, we had the old Egyptian 
Green-jieslied., and now in the green-fleshed section there is no modern variety 
better flavoured, and next to it, the Beecliwood. Amongst the scarlet-fleshed Melons, 
what sort excels the Scarlet Gem for flavour ? And some others, such as Bead’s 
Hybrid and Gilbert’s Victory of Bath have, I have no doubt, some of the same 
strain in them, from their excellence. The seeds of the new sorts of Melons, 
