Chap. XL OF THE CHAPTER. 443 



bud-variation, as shown in the previous lists, and might pro- 

 bably, by searching foreign horticultural works, have col- 

 lected very many more cases, yet their total number is as 

 nothing in comparison with that of seminal varieties. With 

 seedlings raised from the more variable cultivated plants, the 

 variations are almost infinitely numerous, but their differences 

 are generally slight : only at long intervals of time a strongly 

 marked modification appears. On the other hand, it is a 

 singular and inexplicable fact that, when plants vary by buds, 

 the variations, though they occur with comparative rarity, are 

 often, or even generally, strongly pronounced. It struck me that 

 this might perhaps be a delusion, and that slight changes often 

 occurred in buds, but were overlooked or not recorded from 

 being of no value. Accordingly, I applied to two great 

 authorities on this subject, namely, to Mr. Rivers with 

 respect to fruit-trees, and to Mr. Salter with respect to flowers. 

 Mr. Rivers is doubtful, but does not remember having noticed 

 very slight variations in fruit-buds. Mr. Salter informs me 

 that with flowers such do occur, but, if propagated, they 

 generally lose their new character in the following year ; yet 

 he concurs with me that bud-variations usually at once assume 

 a decided and permanent character. AVe can hardly doubt 

 that this is the rule, when we reflect on such cases as that 

 of the peach, which has been so carefully observed, and of 

 which such trifling seminal varieties have been propagated, yet 

 this tree has repeatedly produced by bud- variation nectarines, 

 and only twice (as far as I can learn) any other variety, 

 namely, the Early and Late Grosse Mignonne peaches ; and 

 these differ from the parent-tree in hardly any character 

 except the period of maturity. 



To my surprise, I hear from Mr. Salter that he brings the 

 principle of selection to bear on variegated plants propagated 

 by buds, and has thus greatly improved and fixed several 

 varieties. He informs me that at first a branch often pro- 

 duces variegated leaves on one side alone, and that the leaves 

 are marked only with an irregular edging or with a few lines 

 of white and yellow. To improve and fix such varieties, he 

 finds it necessary to encourage the buds at the bases of the 

 most distinctly marked leaves, and to propagate from them 



