62 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
parts can be distinguished, either by the naked eye, or by the 
microscope ; and the germs of them are, in all cases, true seeds, 
how much soever they may differ in appearance, or in the form 
and arrangement of their parts. 
This, by the way, is a matter well worthy of the attention of the 
florist, especially of him who seeks to obtain new and improved 
varieties by hybridization,—that is, by applying the fertilizing 
part of one variety to the fertilizable part of another. Every 
flowering-plant which has been broken into varieties, either by 
difference of climate or situation, or any other means, known or 
unknown to us, admits of trial, at least, in the way of hybridizing. 
But the cellular plants, having no distinction of parts in the 
flower, cannot be treated in this way ; and the most experienced 
gardener cannot, with all his art, obtain a single hybrid variety 
of Mushroom, of Fern, or of any other flowerless plant. This 
points out a limit to the process ; and shows that, for whatever 
object it may be undertaken, it belongs wholly to the province of 
the florist. 
There is one natural circumstance connected with this impos¬ 
sibility of hybridizing the flowerless plants, which is worthy of 
attention, as showing how beautifully all the parts of nature are 
designed and executed, and how superlatively divine is the wis¬ 
dom which pervades the whole system. The greater number of 
the flowerless plants, especially the fungi and the allied families, 
are perfectly nomadic while they remain in the state of germs, or 
sporse. They are here, there, and every where, not only within 
the regions where they vegetate, but all round the globe ; and 
very many of them are so exceedingly minute, that they ascend 
in the air like vapour, and ride buoyant on the wings of the 
lightest zephyr that can blow; not only this, for they exist in the 
substance of rocks, of plants, and of animals, even in situations 
where no human scrutiny can discern a pore. In consequence 
of this, if they were capable of hybridization, they would become 
blended with each other, until the distinctions were lost; and, as' 
every distinct plant has a distinct office to perform, this blending 
would produce confusion in the system, the final effects of which 
no one could anticipate. But the very law of their nature re¬ 
strains them, and the principle of self-preservation is as obvious 
in the system of nature, as in the individuals which make up that 
system. 
