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HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 



numerous interesting departures from the uniform type of the first generation, 

 the characteristics of B. Thunbcrgii coming out very strongly in some in- 

 stances, and those of B. vulgaris purpurea coming out equally strongly in 

 others. 



The leaves of these seedlings in the second generation vary in size very 

 much, being in some cases even smaller than those of B. Thunbergii, and in 

 others even larger than those of B. vulgaris purpurea, the habit of the shrub 

 frequently following that of the species which its leaves more nearly re- 

 semble. The margins of the leaves are in some instances free from spines, 

 yet they are in some other cases provided with a larger number of spines 

 than are found on the leaves of the parent hybrids. 



The color of the foliage is, however, perhaps the point of chief interest ; 

 for, while in the hybrids of the first' generation scarcely any tendency to 

 purple can be detected, the second generation gives numerous shrubs of as 

 deep a purple as B. vulgaris purpurea (or, perhaps, even deeper), some of 

 them having also large leaves and a vigorous, upright habit. The shrubs with 

 purple foliage constitute about twenty-three per cent, of the whole number 

 grown. 



The reappearance of this "recessive"' character in almost exactly one- 

 fourth of the seedlings is of interest in connection with Mendel's observations 

 on cross-bred peas. 



The Chair: I have listened with a great deal of interest to this hyhridization that Dr. 

 .Saunders has just spoken of. It stimulates the hope that there may be practical results 

 of importance. For to my taste there is no jelly from whatever fruit, that equals that 

 made from the barberry, and if you can get something that will be productive of better 

 results in this useful particular I am sure great gain will have been made, beside tlie 

 incidental scientific interest of the work as it proceeds. 



