1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
019 
light, but on our hill land it has been otherwise. There 
has not been an average yield of hay, probably not. 
more than two-thirds as much as was cut last year; but 
last year’s crop was unusually large. Grain is good, 
wheat especially so. On account ot the drouth, the 
straw is short, but the heads are well filled and the 
grain plump. I think there has not been so good a 
yield for more than ten years, excepting in 1846, which 
was about the same. The abundant rains that we have 
had since the 10th of August has been just the thing 
for corn and potatoes; and they now promise well. As 
far as we can judge, there will be a fair crop of these 
two valuable productions. I have not heard of any ap¬ 
pearance of the potato disease. There is an uncommon 
scarcity of fruit. W. L. Eaton. Mast Weave } N. 
H. } September 3, 1849. 
Hybridization. 
A valuable article appeared sometimes since in the 
London Horticultural Magazine , on the subject of hy¬ 
bridizing plants. Many of the observations of the 
writer are particularly deserving attention, and we of¬ 
fer some extracts, with a few additional remarks: 
“In a practical point of view, the power of pro¬ 
ducing hybrid plants is one of the most important 
means which man possesses of modifying the vegetable 
races, and adapting them to his purposes. To it we 
owe some, indeed many, of our most beautiful garden 
flowers, as well as the most valuable of our fruits and 
Vegetables. 
“ The operation of hybridizing plants, consists in fer¬ 
tilizing the stigma of the flower of one plant with the 
pollen of another of different though allied characters. 
The effect of this when the cross fecundation is actually ef¬ 
fected, is to originate a new form, usually possessing pro¬ 
perties and characters intermediate between the parents. 
11 ft is, however, only between species in which the 
degree of relationship is somewhat close, that this in¬ 
tercourse is effected; and as a rule, those plants which 
accord most fully in general structure and constitution, 
will most readily admit of artificial union. Species 
that are very dissimilar, appear to have some natural 
obstacle which prevents mutual fertilization; and this 
obstacle becomes insurmountable in the case of very 
different genera. 
“ It has been thought that a law, very similar to 
that which obtains among animals, also regulates the 
production and fertility of mule plants; and so far as 
observations have been made and recorded, this seems, 
as a general rule, near the truth. Thus two distinct, 
species of the same genus of plants will, in many cases, 
produce an intermediate offspring, perfect, as far as 
regards the exercise of the vital functions, but defec¬ 
tive as regards the power of perpetuating itself by a 
seminal process. Even when, in the first generation, 
this sterility is not apparent, it becomes so in the se¬ 
cond, and less commonly in the third or in the fourth 
generation. Such mules may, however, [sometimes,] 
be rendered fertile by the application of the pollen of 
either parent, the characters of which then become as¬ 
sumed by the offspring; in other words, the hybrid 
form reverts to one of its parents.” 
The idea above alluded to, that a similar law pre¬ 
vails among plants and animals, in regard to cross¬ 
breeding, is supported by many facts. The sterility of 
hybrid plants is strikingly analogous to the sterility of 
hybrid animals—as the offspring of the ass and horse; 
and various hybrids among birds—the produce of the 
wild (Canadian) and domestic goose, of the Muscovy 
and common duck, See. The organization of these hy¬ 
brids, (as is remarked in regard to plants produced by 
cross-fertilization,) seems to be perfect, except that 
they are defective in the power of procreation. 
But this tendency to sterility is not confined in ani¬ 
mals to the offspring of distinct species it appears not 
unfrequently in cross-breeds from widely-differing varie¬ 
ties, and more or less in all individuals, which, from 
whatever cause, show a marked departure from the 
natural type. Hence the sterility of monsters, and a 
general weakness of the virile powers in all animals 
which have any particular organs, disproportionately 
developed. 
Again, the characters of cross bred animals, like 
those of cross-bred plants, are often imperfectly devel¬ 
oped in the first generation; and there is for a time 
considerable tendency to “ spfcjFt,” or vary. Experi¬ 
ence has demonstrated that this tendency may be 
chiefly overcome by long continued skill and judgment 
in selecting and coupling, and a new and well defined 
sort or breed ultimately obtained. Knight accom¬ 
plished this in the production of various new kinds of 
cherries, apples, pears, and currants. The same thing 
has been done in this country with beans, peas, Indian 
corn, potatoes, turnips, &c. So in regard to animals j 
Bakewell and others have, by crossing, obtained new 
breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry j 
some of which have proved of great value. 
The writer above quoted offers various conclusions as 
to the results of crossing plants ; one of which is, that 
“ crossed plants being often less fertile, are in the same 
proportion more luxuriant, and produce larger flowers.” 
Is there not something analogous to this in the rapid 
growth and thrift of animals, which are produced by 
what is called a “ strongs cross ?” 
Race’s Self-Registering Stove. 
We notice, in various parts of the country, that great 
and constant inconvenience is experienced by the une¬ 
qual temperature of rooms heated by stoves. This in- 
7 —race’s stove. 
convenience is still greater where sheet-iron stoves are 
used, which otherwise possess the advantage of saving 
fuel, and warming up quickly a cold room in the morn¬ 
ing. 
We have found, from some years of trial, Race’s Self- 
Registering Stove, to possess all the advantages of 
heating a room from zero to summer heat in five min¬ 
utes after a fire is kindled, and then maintaining this 
temperature with scarcely a degree of variation, 
throughout the day. With rather coarse wood, it needs 
no replenishing for hours together; and will keep a room 
