igi/. PRAEGER — Arbiili Corona. . 23 



I broueht 5. Geum from Berehaven to Belfast in i(S88, 

 and grew it in my garden for five years. Numerous self- 

 sown seedlings appeared, all of which agreed with the 

 parent. In 1894 I brought 5. umhrosa from Recess to 

 ni}^ Dublin garden, where for ten years it grew and pro- 

 duced only normal seedlings. Then I received S. Geum 

 from Kerry, and planted it near the other. The most 

 varied seedlings soon Ijegan to appear, representing many 

 stages intermediate between the two species, and including 

 5. hirsuta. This kind of evidence is good enough in its 

 way, but it does not supply a scientific proof ; and as 1 

 think that most other botanists had got no further in 

 the matter than I had, the results of Dr. Dixon's definite 

 and controlled experiments are important. Incidentally, 

 I may sav that an account by the experimenter himself, 

 with further information of this research, would have been 

 welcome, and, combined with Dr. Scully's systematic 

 notes, would have been appropriate to the pages of one 

 of our botanical periodicals, where besides it would have 

 obtained a wider publicity. Dr. Scully's long discussion 

 of these forms, and the accompanying six plates of leaf 

 forms (which are rather poor) while most interesting, 

 appear somehow inappropriate in a county Flora, and 

 mar the methodical harmony of the work. 



We look to the publication of a local Flora, and the 

 intensive study of the plants of the selected area which 

 it involves, to settle outstanding doubts and difiiculties 

 regarding the occurrence or rank of certain species, and 

 similar points regarding which there may have been 

 obscurity. In this respect the " Flora of Kerry " fully 

 maintains its author's reputation for painstaking research 

 and sound judgment. Some of his decisions regarding 

 the standing of plants in Kerry are decidedly interest- 

 ing. Amiong species often looked on ^^•ith suspicion, 

 which he admits to full rank as natives, are Teesdalia 

 nudicaulis (on the strength of one small patch now 

 apparently extinct), Lavaiera arhorea, Trifolium fili- 

 forme, Samhucus nigra. Dr. Moss, editor of the " Cam- 

 bridge British Flora," recently told me that, having 

 examined the only English station (near Bournemouth) 



