20 



.;onseut to regard the magnificent cowslip as a degraded state of the plant, th» 

 last stage on the progress towards extinction. He quite agreed with Mr, 

 Edmunds in believing that all the three forms were mere variations of one 

 species, but he disputed his theory of a progress from P. vulgaris to elatior 

 and veris. Mr. Edmunds had laid much stress on the appearance of a 

 rudimentary scape in P. vulgaris, but he (Mr. Lees) knew of instances in which 

 the umbel, supported on a stalk, and single flowers, had appeared together 

 on the same plant. Then, too, he could not accept the instances of abortive 

 development as proving the gradual decay of vital power in the plant which 

 Mr. Edmunds had deduced from it. He thought that all the various forms 

 were but accidental variations ; and he recommended Mr. Edmunds to pursue 

 his experiments. He had known instances in which the seed of a cowslip on 

 being sown had produced not only cowslips, but oxlips and primroses also, and 

 he hnd known the seed of P. vulgaris in like manner produce the other forma 

 of the plant. 



Dr. Bull said he had often sown polyanthus seed and obtained every 

 variety from the primrose-oxlip to the cowslip, but he had never once obtained 

 a primrose itself. 



Mr. Edmonds felt obliged to Mr. Lees for his criticism, which he felt to 

 be in its main propositions a confirmation of his own theory. He, too, had read 

 of the occurrence of the stalked umbel and the single flower in the Primrose, 

 but happened to forget it, or he should have quoted it among the other proofs 

 of the identity of P. vulgaris and P. elatior. He thought it was also a very 

 strong proof of the progress of the plant. So again with the cases given of the 

 productions of various kinds from the seed of one plant : if that could be estab- 

 lished, it would place beyond doubt his theory that all the so-called species 

 ■were really but one, while it would leave his theory of the progress of the plant 

 unaffected. He put it forward only as a theory, but he understood a theory to 

 be a guess at truth. As he was a seeker for truth, and knew no other mode 

 of obtaining it but by guesses founded upon careful consideration of the facts, he 

 could not help himself— he felt he had no choice but to theorise (applause). 



The President expressed the great interest he had felt in the paper and 

 in the discussion which had followed it. He only regretted that they had not 

 more time to devote to the discussion, but he hoped that there would be an 

 opportunity for a renewal of it at the next or some future meeting (hear, bear). 

 At present the time for the departure of the trains was rapidly approaching, 

 and he could do no more than briefly say that the members all felt greatly 

 indebted to Mr. Edmunds for his most able and interesting paper, and also 

 to Mr. Lees for his criticisms upon it (laughter and applause). 



Thus ended the proceedings of an agreeable and profitable day, that will 

 leave a characteristic rtemory of English climate, English perseverance, English 

 scenery, and English country sociality. 



