PHILOSOPHY OF FLORICULTURE. 
249 
of flowering, they are always the best for fertility ; and it is to 
the fertilizing organs that our chief care should be directed. 
We can, in part at least, see and understand the reason why 
the fertilizing organs of plants are the first to give way. They 
are the most delicate, and also the most exposed to vicissitudes of 
the climate and weather. The fertilizable parts are more pro¬ 
tected ; and the greater number of seeds are enclosed in pericarps, 
of some description or other, which are often almost proof against 
these vicissitudes. It is probable that the first action of the seed 
toward maturity is shut up from the air and light, and at a 
temperature lower than that which the exposed portion of the 
flower has. The pollen, on the other hand, requires a concen¬ 
tration of the genial powers of the climate and season ; and thus, 
if a reverse comes before the fertilizing is completed, these more 
tender parts are weakened, or even destroyed. For this purpose 
the anthers, or pollen masses, are exposed ; and all the natural 
garniture of the petals is closely connected with those organs, 
and most likely contributes to the perfecting of them, though in a 
manner too nice for our observation, and too obscure for our 
understanding. This is rendered the more likely by the fact 
that an increase of the number and beauty of the petals is always 
accompanied by a weakening of the anthers ; and, as has been 
said, when this is carried to the highest point, the plant ceases to 
foe fertile. Hence, in cross impregnation, it is always desirable 
that the flowers from which the pollen is taken should not be too 
double; although those which are quite single are apt to bring 
the double flowers to which they are applied too nearly to their 
own state. If the anthers of the plant which is to be impreg¬ 
nated are only weakened and not quite destroyed, it is desirable 
to leave them, and only assist them with the pollen of the other 
plant; but, if the object is to obtain hybrids different from both 
parent plants, then the anthers of the impregnated plant should 
be removed before they have begun to perform their function, 
either naturally or by the intervention of insects—and it is 
highly probable that hybrids, especially among plants abounding 
in pollen, are often produced by these insects. The subject is, 
however, an extensive, as well as nice and difficult one, and so we 
must not extend it too far in any one paper, or continue it in 
, every number of our Journal. 
VOL. II. NO. XI. 
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