276 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[August 1. 
Asa general rule, distinct genera, though belonging to 
the same natural order, will not hybridise; there may 
be a few exceptions. 
2nd. Hybridisation between species of plants takes 
place more readily than among animals, though, as in 
the latter case, the hybrid or mule is generally barren, 
as in the pretty mule Pinlc, which can only be pro¬ 
pagated by cuttings. If, in some cases, such hybrids 
between distinct species do produce seeds that will grow, 
the plants soon lose the power to do so, unless fecun¬ 
dation has been again effected by one or both of the 
original parents. 
3rd. Hybridisation is most easily effected between 
distinct varieties of the same species. Such hybrids are 
also the most valuable, because many of them if kept 
distinct, will reproduce themselves true from seed, such 
for instance as our garden varieties of the cabbage. They 
will also hybridise with other varieties, which also will 
be reproductive. But this reproduction can be carried 
only to a certain point, that point being determined by 
no known rules, but depending upon something con¬ 
stitutional in the nature of that tribe of plants. Thus, 
we have found that Calceolarias long crossed would not 
produce seed, though apparently possessing perfect 
stamens and pistils; nor yet would they do so when 
fecundated by another variety as high bred as them¬ 
selves, though seeds would be produced when fecun¬ 
dated with the pollen from some of the coarser, more 
original, types of the species; but, of course, in that case 
the progeny were defective in form and beauty. Even 
when the seed of the variety continues fertile and they 
are not averse from joining issue with kindred varieties, 
still a deterioration of quality will in time ensue, similar 
to what takes when the breeding in-and-in system 
among animals is adopted. When, therefore, a superior 
flower—root, vegetable, fruit or grain—is obtained, care 
should be taken not only to keep the variety true, but 
experiments should be made to cross it with some other 
dissimilar, and yet desirable variety, in the hope of ob¬ 
taining a fresh production which may take the place of 
both its parents when they are beginning to wear out. 
4th and Lastly. In hybridising, many experiments 
would tend to confirm the idea that manner and stylo of 
growth will be chiefly regulated by the characteristics 
that belong to the plant that possesses the pistil, while 
the flower and other parts of fructification will be in¬ 
fluenced by the plant from whence the pollen of the 
stamens was taken. Thus, when the beautiful Fuchsia 
fulgens was introduced by the house of Lee, great hopes 
wero entertained of what could be done by hybridising 
it with such old varieties as (jlobosa. But as most of 
the attempts were made by selecting fuhjens as the 
mother plant, the progeny were distinguished by large 
leaves and small flowers, whilst what was desirable was 
the large flowers of fulgens, and the small compact 
foliage of globosa. Again, for example, our earliest peas, 
such as the Albert and the Frame, are hardy and 
stubhy in their growth ; but then no one will use them 
after the more tender, later, but largo and sweet peas of 
the various Marrowfats appear. To cross the Marrow 
witli the Early Pea, would have the tendency to give a 
variety possessing the small flavourless fruit of the 
latter, with the tender and late habits of the former. 
By making the Early Pea the mother plant, and the 
large high-flavoured Marrow the father, there is a 
likelihood of obtaining early peas, hardy in their nature, 
large in size, and good in flavour. 
From the operation of such principles, either naturally 
or artificially, improvements in vegetable forms have 
taken, and are now taking placo. Glance at the dimi¬ 
nutive violet, aud behold in a florist’s bed of heartsease 
what has been given to man as the reward of industry 
and care. Taste the luscious apple and yaw, and con¬ 
trast them with the diminutive gritty things of former 
times. Look at the wiry thing upon\he cliffs of Dover, ; 
the grand original of all our cabbages and cauliflowers. 
Observe the uncidtivated turnip, scarcely recognisable ! 
from wild mustard, and notice the sticky, wiry carrot as 
it grows by the highway, and then just stop into that 
jolly good farmer’s fields and feast your eyes, at the 
proper season, on the rare turnips and carrots there, and 
then you will be convinced not only of what hybridi¬ 
sation and careful culture have already done, but that j 
when these principles are better understood and more 
acted upon, additional sources of rational employment ; 
will be opened up to the industrious mind,-—flowers still , 
more beautiful will be produced; fruits, roots, and j 
grain most suitable for particular soils and climates will 
be found; vegetable phenomena will be better under- j 
stood and more attended to ; and the consequence will ; 
bo, that practice will not sneer at, but become the corn- | 
panion and the testing agent for the principles of science ; 
and thus more elevated enjoyment will be realised ; 
more food be produced; more employment provided; 
and a higher degree of happiness secured for all. 
It. Fish. 
HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
STOVE PLANT’S. 
Stove Climbeks.—As this department of plant cul¬ 
ture is, with the exception of the orchid house, the most 
expensive of any, both with respect to the erection of 
the heating apparatus and the quantity of fuel after¬ 
wards required, it is especially desirable to make the 
best use of the interior to obtain an amount of enjoy¬ 
ment proportionate to the outlay. Every good gardener 
will, in addition to furnishing the stages, platforms, or 
pits, with suitable plants, be desirous to cover the rafter 
and cross bars with handsome and free flowering clim¬ 
bers. There are now in this country numbers of such 
plants—more than sufficient to clothe variously the 
roofs of the largest hothouses in Europe. Hence arises 
a temptation to cultivate too many, so as almost to 
defeat the purpose they are intended for. By crowding 
them too much on the roof, they not Only injure the 
inhabitants below, but cannot flower or thrive them¬ 
selves so well as if there were fewer of them, and kept 
thin enough to allow the light and air to circulate in the 
liouso. It is to prevent this evil, as w r ell as to recommend 
their culture in a proper degree, that we propose to our¬ 
selves to give a paper or two on the subject of stove 
climbers; moro especially for the roofs of the moist 
stove and the stove conservatory; proposing hereafter to 
describe such as are proper to be used to train to a 
trellis, to be placed amongst the ordinary stove plants 
on the stage or centre pit. As some of our readers are 
building, or are intending to build, a stove, we shall in 
the first placo give a list of tho very best stove climbers, 
that thoy may bo at no loss what kinds to procure. 
8. d. 
* Allamanda Schottii; large yellow, brown, striped flowers. 5 0 
- grandiflora; small foliage, large yellow flowers. 5 0 
Iiig7ionia venusta; orange. 3 G 
- Chamberlaynii ; pink.... 3 6 
* Clerodcndrurn splcndeiis speciosissimum ; scarlet. 5 0 
* Combretum purpureum ; bright scarlet. 5 0 
Dipladenia iras&inoda ; rose. 3 6 
* Echitcs splendcns ; rose and whitish blush. 3 0 
Hoya vnperialis ; chocolate. 7 G 
- carnosa ; white and pink. 2 d 
Ipomea Horsf allice; deep crimson. 3 d 
* - Learii; deep blue... 2 d 
Passiflora alata ; crimson, purple, and white. 5 0 
* - Kermisina ; red and white ... 3 d 
- . Lemicheziana ; blue and white. 3 G 
- quadrangularis ; crimson, purple, and white. 3 d 
* - racemosa ; scarlet. 2 G 
* Stephanotis Jloribunda ; white. 3 6 
Schubertia graveolens; white. 3 d 
Thunbergia grandiflora ; light blue. 3 d 
- Hawtayneana . 5 0 
Tho above is a very select list of twenty-one of the 
