Constancy and segregation are thrown together in such a manner that
extreme variability results, and numerous beautiful types may be had,
and others may be expected from further crosses. For a scientific
analysis, however, the large range of recorded facts and the written
history, which at first sight [274] seems to have no lacunae, are not
sufficient. Most of the questions remain open and need investigation. It
would be a capital idea to try to repeat the history of the begonias or
any other hybrid race, making all the described crosses and then
recording the results in a manner requisite for complete and careful
scientific investigations.
Many large genera of hybrid garden-flowers owe their origin to species
rich in varieties or in elementary subspecies. Such is the case with the
gladiolus and the tulips. In other cases the original types have not
been obtained from the wild state but from the cultures of other
countries.
The dahlias were cultivated in Mexico when first discovered by
Europeans, and the chrysanthemums have been introduced from the old
gardens of Japan. Both of them consisted of various types, which
afterwards have been increased chiefly by repeated intercrossing.
The history of many hybrid races is obscure, or recorded by different
authorities in a different way.
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