51 



than in the Northern States; and it is not at all improbable that 

 the want of colour in my specimens is the result of the cold 

 exposed climate* of my garden, and the poor soilf in which I 

 have planted them." 



In 1859 I reported to the Association as follows: — 



"The D. Tatula, Purple Thorn Apple.— The crop of this 

 season is from seed supplied by Butler, of Covent Garden. It is 

 at least twice the size of that which was previously reported 

 upon, and the flowers and whole plant appear to be unusually 

 dark in colour, in which it contrasts finely with the following." 



"Datura Stramonium, American Thorn Apple." 



" Only three plants have this year arrived at maturity, but its 

 extreme whiteness is quite remarkable when placed beside the 

 D. Tatula, a crop which, it wiU be remembered, was formerly 

 reported upon as being almost destitute of colour." 



In 1859 the summer was remarkably dry and hot, and so, 

 doubtless, favoured the faU development of the D. Tatula. 



During the last year, 1864, I grew a quantity of this plant at 

 Bradford; and here, not only the season, but I think the climate 

 favoured its growth, as here the plants were not only larger than 

 any I had heretofore grown, but the coloiir was considerably 

 darker; and in this latter respect it contrasted curiously with 

 examples grown in the neighbourhood of London, which were 

 considerably less coloured. 



My crop of this year promises equally well, both for size and 

 colour; indeed, I appear to have got into a strain of this plant, 

 which perhaps may be considered as perfect. 



I am thus led experimentally to consider that the Datura 

 Stramonium and Datura Tatula are not distinct species; a notion, 

 indeed, in which I am not singular. Beck, in his "United 

 States Botany," considers the D. Tatula a variety of D. Stra- 

 mmiium, and I have myself seen them growing together in 

 Virginia, with only the distinction in colour, but apparently 

 none in size. It was doubtless introduced into the States, being 

 an Eastern plant. 



* The climate was that of the CotteswolcU. 

 t The soil that of Forest Marble Clay. 

 E 



