To the Editor of the "Nonru-Cama Dary News."
Sm,—I was deeply interested in your article on L. Burbank in your issue of
you that he has fully earned this distinct the 26th ult, and whilst agreeing. with tion, I would with your permission humbly draw attention to cei which to the uninitiated may be misleading.
I refer to such expression as " The
principles..." "Burbank is the new discoverer, has but appli these wizard who has found out how to produce. "Why was it not done before? Others can follow where Burbank leads the way." These and similar expressions are li many readers wit isation of plants is a novelty and Burbank its only and primary exponent, Whilst showing that such is not the case I Ho not propose to dilate on the share which Camerarius, Milling'on, Grew, and others, had at the clove of the seventeenth century in definitely establishing the fact sexuality in plants, but merely to emphasise the fact that it wae by experiment, has by speculation, that such was proven.
Richard Bradley in his book called "Now Improvements of Pianting and Gardening, both Philosophical and Practical," says, after minutely describing the process whereby hybrids are produced, "and the seeds will produce a plant differing from either parent as may be seen in the gardens of Thomas Fairchild of Hoxton, a plant. raised from the seed of a carnation that'had been fecundated by the farina of Swoot William, This book was pul lished in 1717 cap li, Linnmus raised hybrids in 1759. In 1760 Kolreuter bogan his elaborate experiments in this science, raising many new plants. years later Andrew Thomas Knight and specially Dean Herbert took up this work with remarkable success, not only raising now plants which still rank, but also showing, by their exporimenta, to system. the futility of trying fluence and effects of pangenitic Prepotency, non-reciprocity, ote., require only to be referred to to show that scientifically and practically this is no new process, Further it may be noted that Mendel had elaborated and given to the world the famous Mendelian theory of heredity as exemplified by plants i 1865, eight years before Burbank's first i.e, the Burbank Potato, raised in 1873, How universal the ice of raising new plants by hybridisation and cross. breeding had become during the 19th century can best be realised when we consider that it was estimated at the close of the century that prior to that period there had been artificially raised 6,400 varieties of roses alone.
To show that Burbank does not stand alone allow me to refer briefly to the hybrid orchids (which taking everything into consideration are the most difficult class of plants to raise) raised since 1873 by J. Seden of Chelsea, who up to date has raised 530 hybrids, 220 of which are hi-generic hybrids. The amounts quoted only include distinct hybrids duly certified as being equal to and superior to existing forms. In addition to this he has raised numerous distinct forms of nearly all British grown fruits, also a large amount of hot house and other forms of flowers, That ho and Burkank only rank amongst the leading 4) hybridists proves that the art of hybridisation is "commuting far from being restricted to one person or one country. To show the general interest taken in the production of new plants it may be stated that some of the new varieties of potatoes raised in Britain are sold at prices varying from £1 a tuber to the rate of £1,000 per ton, single bulbs of narcissus have recently been sold at 20 to 60 guineas each, whilst orchids have fetched 100, 200 and more gulness each.
Why was it not done before? This question can best he answered by another. Whence come the unrivalled fruits and flowers of British and Earopean gardens of the past and present generation? Whence the unexcelled grapes of British hot houses? Certainly not from California, since any plants of quality derived from hat coureo are very, very easily enumerst-My main object in writing the foregoing is certainly not to underrate Burbank, whom T daly honour, nor hi excellent works, but to prevent the hoisting of man on & pedestal whilst ignoring is equals, probably superiors, were due allowance made for adverse circumstances. "Honour to whom honour is due," and much is due to those strenuous ho in had to exhibit the products el vowly-introduced plants from other Tam, ete, D, MacGnecor.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.