t62 
July 29, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Linnaeus by putting all the plants with two stamens 
into one order, got the Ash, the little Duckweed, 
and a certain grass all included in one class. So it 
will be seen that such artificial classification is a bit 
ridiculous. But take the present day classification. 
We find plants separated simply on account of the 
position of their ovaries, as for instance the Liliaceae 
and Amaryllidae, represented by the Scilla or Blue¬ 
bell in the first case and the Daffodils in the other. 
On the other hand we have in the same order, to wit, 
the Saxifrageae, plants with superior, and others with 
jnferior, ovaries, so that here we have instances of 
the inconsistency of the systemists. And yet, said 
Prof. Henslow, I never have heard of a single cross 
between a Lily and a member of the Narcissus family, 
even though the differences of structure are seemingly 
so slight. Again, botanists are content to separate 
Cattleyas from Laelias simply on account of the 
former having four pollen masses and the latter 
eight. The Snapdragon and the little Toad-flax 
belong to different genera of the same order, yet in 
its early stages you may say the Linaria is just a 
little Snapdragon, for it is only after it has fully 
developed that the spur which distinguishes it, is 
seen. 
Dr. Lindley took a sensible initiative, when he 
grouped Orchids according to their pollen masses. 
The lecturer said he liked Dean Herbert's proposition, 
which is to the effe.ct that genera and species which 
can be crossed are undoubtedly members of the same 
groups. When those in charge at Kew, to go no 
further, get dried specimens of a plant from some 
part or other they study the morphological characters 
and put it into its order. But what about the results 
when the hybridist takes the same species of plant in 
hand? He may hybridise it with aplant of another 
order, what then ? We know that distinct species 
sometimes refuse to make fertile crosses. 
Rhodora, Azaleas, and Rhododendrons are quite 
distinct (morphologically) according to the systemists, 
but from their freedom in cross-breeding it was 
deemed correct to unite them all as Rhododendrons. 
So the question arises : " Why are they not still to 
be regarded as distinct genera ? 
The constitutional affinity of plants and its effect 
on hybridising was shown to be of much importance. 
Thus some French strains of Scarlet Pelargoniums, 
though fertile among themselves, failed to cross with 
English varieties, just because of some constitutional 
differences. He also gave instances where high land 
or dry land Criniums and other plants, refused to 
cross with those of their kind, favouring aquatic 
culture. And cultivated and uncultivated species, or 
species from hot tropical countries will not at once 
cross with those from cold or temperate latitudes, 
though of course, they interbreed. 
All the modern forms of the Chinese Primula 
refuse to cross with the original little one, so much 
have they changed in constitution. Rhododendron 
jasminiflorum differs as much in shape from other 
Rhododendrons as do the little Linaria and 
Antirrhinum. Yet the hybridist proved its relation¬ 
ship by cresses with the R. javanicum and R.baisami- 
florum sections. 
Coming to the question of prepotency of parentage 
the lecturer delivered facts from attained results 
showing a varying power on both sides according to 
cases. The prevailing idea used to be that form was 
due to the mother parent and colour to the ma 
parent. Mr. Meehan, of America, disproved this by 
his hybrid Pelargoniums, the progeny coming exactly 
intermediate. 
Disemma crossed with Passiflora gave nothing but 
the former, so that here the male was subordinate. 
It may be taken then, said Mr. Henslow, that either 
parent may be so prepotent that the result is entirely 
like one or other. Such results give us what are 
termed false hybrids (as in attempts with Alpine and 
Virginian Strawberries) and in the production of such 
there is no practical advantages though there may be 
some botanical interest attached. Again, in a single 
hybrid we may have distinctly shown the characters 
of as many as five species. 
Another point discussed by the lecturer was that of 
partial pollination. Cases where the pollen has been 
inadequate do occur and it will be found that some 
ovaries do not swell; others may increase, but when 
opened do not contain seeds, and others may have a 
few properly developed seeds. This is caused either 
by the length of style to be traversed by the intine of 
the pollen or by the slightness of the irritating effect 
the intine, or pollen fertilising thread, has upon the 
inner organism of the style. The irritation, so to 
speak, caused by the presence of the pollen tube 
within the stigma causes this latter to excrete a 
nourishing fluid for the sustenance of the said pollen 
tube and nuclei. It is just probable that the nourish¬ 
ment may be insufficient, cr the strength of the 
intine too weak to effect its purpose. At any rate 
the above results, that is, that of barren ovules, may 
frequently be found. The pollen does no work fur¬ 
ther than to set up the irritation which is responded 
to. 
In conclusion, Prof. Henslow quoted from Dean 
Herbert a passage which summarised his own wishes. 
It was this :—" That the cultivator should not be in¬ 
fluenced by any manner of classification, but let him 
put his own views as to the accuracy of those 
separations to the test." 
Experiments in Hybridisation and Cross- 
Breeding. 
Among others who delivered lectures during the con¬ 
ference was C. Hurst, Esq., F.R.H.S., F.L.S., Bur¬ 
bage, Hinckley, whose subject was on experiments 
in the art of hybridisalion and cross-breeding. His 
arguments and conclusions were based on his own 
experiments. Remarking on “inheritance” by 
hybrids of the Orchideae, Mr. Hurst said that 
though varietal characters were important, yet they 
were so subject to change as to be almost indefin¬ 
able in many cases in the second generation. 
Specific differences were less easily changed, and the 
generic characters hold good for a lengthened time. 
The theories or impressions that varieties are pre¬ 
potent was treated of under different heads, which 
summarised are:— 
(1) The tendency is admitted, especially when 
varieties are fertilised by their own pollen; excep¬ 
tions are, however, by no means rare. 
(2) The chief exceptions are apparently where 
the parents or ancestors have been variable. 
(3) Slight variations are seldom inherited. 
(4) Abnormal sports are for the most part trans¬ 
mitted wholly or not at all. 
(5) Distinct varieties, as a general rule, transmit 
their qualities in different degrees, sometimes wholly, 
sometimes partially, sometimes not at all. 
(6) When the same variations are found in both 
strains they may be found in the second or following 
generations, but seldom otherwise, as already men¬ 
tioned. 
(7) A law of partial prepotency, advanced in this 
paper, is offered as a possible explanation of the 
varied results in the inheritance of varietal charac¬ 
teristics. 
Though the specific characters of the parents in 
bigeneric hybrids are usually about intermediate, 
Mr. Hurst cited seven cases where the reed-like 
species of Epidendrum showed prepotency in 
every case in which they were crossed with Cattleya, 
Laelia, or Sophronitis. Very many others of very 
distinct species or genera were mentioned, in which 
the offspring resembles the mother parent exactly. 
The explanation offered was that the pollen had 
probably not the power to fertilise the egg-cell of the 
ovary in the proper way, yet was sufficiently instru¬ 
mental to cause growth to start. How hybrids 
followed a peculiar or striking character of one par¬ 
ent, or combined differently constructed organs of 
the same parts in the parents was also put before the 
hearers, explanations which make clear the term 
partial prepotency ; and, of course, primary hybrids 
do not differ so much from their parents as do 
secondary ones. Sex was said to have little 
influence. 
It was further observed, however, that a hybrid does 
not take first one parent and then diverge towards 
the other, but that while it may favour the seed 
parent in evident or striking characters, it may 
follow the male in details. He also discussed the 
variation of secondary hybrids, in which the case of 
a secondary hybrid produced a special colour found 
in the leaves of one of its ancestors, but which was 
undeveloped in the parent or primary hybrid, and 
that hybrids are not so frequently sterile as is sup¬ 
posed. Mr. Hurst can record the fertility of hybrids 
in 90 genera. 
Sterility was a term used by Darwin to denote 
diminished fertility, and this occurs in hybrids un¬ 
doubtedly, but more owing to diminished power in 
the males than anything else. In Cypripediums, of 
crosses made between distinct species 95 05 per cent, 
were fertile; of hybrids crossed with pure species 
9182 percent., while only 60 per cent, of the pure 
species produced seeds when fertilised with pollen 
from hybrids. About the stability of hybrids the 
figures Mr. Hurst gave regarding his hybrid Bar¬ 
berries were that out of 100 seedlings no less than 
90 per cent, reproduced the parent form faithfully 
and well, and not a single individual reverted to the 
form of either grandparent. Outcrossing of species 
he had proved to add vigour to the hybrid, while by 
incrossing the same things the primary conditions of 
growth-pulse returned. The number of spedies a 
hybrid may manifestly contain is commonly enough 
four or five, but so many as twenty-seven genera 
of Orchideae have been linked together one way and 
another by hybridisation. In concluding, the 
lecturer urged that accurate records be kept by all 
hybridists, and that failures in hybridisation with the 
wider classes of plants should in no way discourage 
anyone. 
— ..— » «■- 
SOCIETIES. 
HAUGHLEY AND WETHERDEN FLOWER SHOW 
AND FETE .-July 10th. 
This popular horticultural fete was held in the beau¬ 
tiful grounds of Flashwood Park, Haughley, kindly 
granted by Mr. B. B. Booth, J.P. There was a 
large company of visitors from the surrounding 
neighbourhood. 
The exhibits were exceedingly good and did great 
credit to the producers. One great feature was the 
large and very beautiful collection of wild flowers, 
collected by ladies in the district and also by 
children under twelve years of age. Messrs. Frewer 
Bros., Stowmarket, added very much to the general 
effect of the show by a large exhibit of pot plants and 
other horticultural exhibits. 
The judges were, Mr. Musgrove, Finborough 
Hall; Mr. Parsey, Stowmarket; Mr. Gilby, Plash- 
wood Park ; and Mr. Brett, Haughley Park. There 
was a variety of rural sports and the Cambridge 
Brass Band enlivened the proceedings. 
WOOLPIT AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL.— 
July nth. 
The annual show in connection with the above 
society took place on the Cricket Meadow, kindly 
lent by Mr. A. Lord. The exhibits were arranged 
in two tents—one for fruit, cut flowers and pot 
plants, and one for cottagers. The latter made a 
very poor display, both in the number of entries and 
quality of the vegetables staged. But to make up 
for any loss in the attraction of this tent, Messrs. 
Frewer, Bros., of the Stowmarket Nurseries, made 
an excellent display of pot plants, cut flowers, fruit, 
&c., not for competition. Their stand was greatly 
admired. They had some Peas and Gooseberries, 
about twelve dishes coming in for special attention. 
This firm also made a very effective show of Ichthemic 
Guano, the well known fertiliser, sent out by The 
Ichthemic Guano Co., Ipswich. Dr. Wood, Mr. 
Duncan Parker (Clopton Hall), and Mr. Edward 
Le-Hemp Cocksedge (Beyton), sent some very nice 
pot plants, cut flowers, &c. The Cambs Brass Band 
was in attendance and played a capital selection of 
music. 
WOOLTON SHO W.-July 12th. 
This exhibition was held in the grounds of Woolton 
Wood, by the kind permission of Holbrook Gaskell, 
Esq., and showed a marked improvement over that 
of last year. For the groups, F. H. Gossage, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. J. Stoney) won with a collection of 
high merit; Mrs. Cope (gardener, Mr. T. Carling) 
being second. For six kinds of vegetables, Mr. 
Stoney again scored, S. Sanday, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. J. Jones) being second. For one dish of 
Tomatos, Mr. T. Carling and P. Guffie, Esq. (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. Littledale) was second. For six kinds of 
fruits, Mr. Stoney again took the lead, Mr. W. Jones 
being second. 
For bunches of stove and greenhouse cut flowers, 
Mr. Carling won with a fine lot ; Mr. Jones came in 
second. For herbaceous cut flowers, Mr. Stoney 
staged a comprehensive lot ; Mrs. Kimmer being 
second. 
Holbrook Gaskell, Esq. (Mr. R. Todd), contri¬ 
buted a table of choice Orchids. Mr. Huddlestone 
exhibited vegetables. 
Mr. T. W. Mottram sent a grand lot of Lilium 
