184 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW, 



there are two pairs of inferior pinnse to every pair of the superior. 

 Very often at the base of the superior pinnse a sessile leafy 

 process may be observed, and in its axil a bud, which under 

 favourable circumstances will develop into a branch. In almost 

 any leaf a protuberance will be found at these points on the 

 rachis. A microscopical section through this protuberance presents 

 all the appearance of a bud in its earliest stage, and a series may 

 be made showing the tissue in all stages of development. Some- 

 times these buds remain dormant, but on removing the upper part 

 of the stem, and checking all lateral growths, the whole energy of 

 the plant is directed to these buds, and in a short time the plant 

 presents the remarkable appearance of a leaf, or leaves, bearing 

 branches, which flower and bear fruit. 



On seeing this phenomenon for the first time, it might be 

 assumed that the adventitious growths on the leaf resulted from 

 the severe pruning of the plant on which they appear, but this is 

 not the case, as the buds may be observed on the rachis of the 

 leaf more or less developed before the plant has been pruned at 

 all. This abnormality is the most important one to be observed 

 in the plant. It is by no means characteristic of the order, and 

 the fact that it produces buds on the leaves before cultural 

 mutilation, seems to point to constitutional changes induced by 

 cultivation. 



The other abnormalities to be described are not uncommon in 

 cultivated plants, but considering that the Tomato produces 

 abnormalities at every available point, the fact may be looked 

 upon as nature's protest against overculture, and should serve as 

 a warning to the cultivator. The Tomato is subject to many 

 diseases, the most deadly of which is the fungus Cladosporium 

 fulvum^ which seems to be spreading throughout the country with 

 great rapidity. 



The following is a list of the abnormalities which have come 

 under my notice : — 



Adventitious roots on the stem are formed as far up as 18 

 inches from the ground. 



Abnormalities of the stem and lateral branches. — Fasciation 

 of the stem is frequent, and partial fasciation (probably induced 

 by a change in conditions during the progress of growth) is not 

 uncommon. 



