22 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ JANUARY, 
planted wherever hardy deciduous flowering shrubs can be fitly introduced ; but 
they will be most effective if planted in groups of one colour.— T. Moore. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
establishment of the Pelargonium Society has given rise to a discussion 
\\JEj) of some interest on the subject of Hybridising Plants. On another page (23) 
will be found a short note on a cross between Pelargonium and Geranium , 
supposed to have been effected by Mr. Lowe. Mr. Grieve, in a very sug¬ 
gestive letter, asks if it is possible that the progeny can be in any degree affected by the 
application of foreign pollen to the stigma, after the bloom has been already fertilised by its 
own pollen; and remarks that if this were admitted, it might account for the ‘ queer ’ seedlings 
raised by Mr. Lowe. In one experiment of his own he applied the pollen of a Variegated 
Pelargonium to the stigma of an Ivy-leaved variety, the next day after it had been impregnated 
by its own pollen, and that the result has been the production of seedlings, as yet unbloomed, 
of such varied appearance, that he can only account for it by the supposition of the influence 
of the second pollen. Dr. Denny’s experience points to the prepotence of the male parent. 
This prepotency is disputed by some growers, but in his experiments is so invariable that it is 
impossible to mistake it. His mode of manipulation he explains as follows:— u When I have 
ascertained by the means of my lens that the stigma is in a virgin and suitable condition for 
impregnation, I immediately smother it with the pollen I purposed employing; and it is 
owing to this smothering of the stigma by the pollen, as I am informed by Professor Duncan, 
that I derive the prepotent influence of the male parent; because, he says, he has found by 
careful experiments that if the ovule be impregnated by the application of a single grain of 
pollen to the stigma, it is nourished principally by the mother plant, which the offspring will in 
that case most resemble: but if a large quantity of pollen be applied to the stigma, the 
ovule would derive nourishment by the superabundant pollen-grains being absorbed and 
carried down to it, and then the offspring would resemble the pollen parent. The value of 
the suggestion contained in Mr. Grieve’s inquiry cannot be over-estimated, for should the 
theory be borne out by continued experiments, it is impossible to say to what extent of 
practical importance the knowledge of it may lead. It may enable us to obtain breaks into 
now forms and varieties of plants or fruits that could have been obtained in no other way, or, 
at any rate, without paying the penalty of sterility in its products; in fact, should such 
influence really be found to exist in foreign pollen applied after impregnation, I look forward 
to the possibility of obtaining results equal to the union of two distinct species, and yet to 
preserve fertility.” 
- Kn an interesting article on Bouquet-making, recently published in the 
Gardeners ’ Chronicle , and in which the difference between a bouquet and a nose 
gay are graphically set forth, the following account is given of the mode adopted 
byM. Vandriessche-Leys, of Ghent:—The bouquet,before completion, passes through several 
hands, and is composed of several elements. First, the master takes a basket and gathers 
suitable flowers; these he hands to an assistant, who mounts them, separately, by tying them 
to the top of a dried Rush, or other slender and light support. As each flower is mounted, 
ho sticks the lower end of each artificial flower-stilt into a box of sand, which thus serves as 
a pin-cushion. The arrangement of the bouquet is not his business, but Madame’s, whose taste 
is supposed to be superior. She has circular cushions of moss ready-made and kept in stock— 
a bunch of Box from an edging is sometimes used for small and low-priced bouquets—and on one 
of these moss-cushions she arranges the stilted flowers like pins, until the desired arrangement 
is completed. The whole is then slipped into a cardboard case or holder fringed with real or 
imitation paper lace, and the thing is done. No engraving, without colour, would give an 
idea of the beauty of the effect produced. That beauty, unfortunately, is short-lived. All that 
can be done to prolong it is to sprinkle the bouquet’s surface with water, and to keep it 
closely covered in a box during the night. A Nosegay is a more natural bunch of flowers, 
which can bo kept for a while by placing their stalks in a vessel of water. 
- ®he testimony of Mr. Coleman, of Eastnor, in reference to VenrZs 
Black Muscat Grape , is that it has all the good qualities of Snow’s Muscat 
Hamburgh and Madresfield Court, without their defects. It has a good con- 
