MORPHOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN THE TOMATO. 181 



Observations on some Morphological Abnormalities in 



the Tomato. 



By S. M. Wellwood. 



[Read 26th October, 1897.] 



Among the various vital phenomena to be observed in plants 



under cultivation, deviations from the normal progression of 



development are perhaps the most striking. When a wild plant 



is introduced into the garden, the first effects of the improvement 



of its circumstances are shown in a greater luxuriance of foliage, 



and generally in an increase in the size and beauty of the flower. 



After the plant has apparently reached its maximum in a normal 



direction, continued culture, especially when accompanied by an 



increase in the amenities of environment, leads to developments 



of an abnormal nature. The most familiar example of these 



abnormalities is seen in the doubling of flowers, where not only 



are the essential organs of the flower metamorphosed into petals, 



but the transformation is generally accompanied by an indefinite 



multiplication of the floral whorls. In the case of plants of 



tropical or sub-tropical origin cultivated under glass, additional 



factors, such as differences of climate and food supply, artificial 



selection, and special cultural treatment with a view to a particular 



result, produce conditions which are highly favourable to deviation. 



The cultivator, by prescribing the environment, wields an immense 



power, and the character and constitution of the plant, within 



certain limits, is at his mercy to make or mar. Generally he 



seeks to gain the maximum of flowers or fruit with a minimum of 



vegetative growth, but very often a high cultivation produces 



modifications other and less desirable than those aimed at. In 



some cases it is the object of cultivation to encourage deviation. 



For example, — in the metamorphosed and abortive inflorescence 



