A.-W. SUTTUN. — Srii ,1 L'OHKilM-: UKS l'.SI'KCKS l'Ait MUTATION 



RE THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MUTATIONS 



I have been askcd by M. Grillon lu s^ive iiiy own expérience upon llir 

 Iheory of the oritfin uT species by mutalion. For nearly iO years I bave bad 

 opporlunilies of walching many Ibousands of plants under cultivalion, and niy 

 own opinion wbicb is shaied by my collaborateurs is thaï there is notliiny 

 approaching a ne\v « species » whicb lias arisen by » mutation ». 



Tbal Ihcre are « permanent variations » there is no doubl, for varielal 

 forms are sometimes seen amongst crops, and Ibese wlien isolated ard grown 

 on often retain their dislinctive cbaracteristics. 



Some bowever are only « flucluating vai-i.dions » and unless careluiiy 

 seicctedyear by year soon lose their identity. 



But thèse modifications are only wlial praclical hoitiiullurisls would < ail 

 new « varielies » of a certain subjecl, and not new » species ». 



I Ihink il bas been suggested tliat while-fruited Strawborries. and 

 Strawberries without runners should be acce])led as « mutations », and, if so, 

 doubtless busb Marrows (Courge à la Moelle non-coureuse), W'axpodded lieans 

 (Haricots nains beurre), Sugar Peas (Pois sans parchemin) whitc skinned 

 Cucumbers, Celeriac, Red Cabbage, Black skinned Turnips, Cutting Leltuces, 

 Cupid Sweet Peas and Yellow Tomatoes should also bc included, but thèse are 

 not new « species » in any true sensé, but only distinct « varieties » and tbey 

 remain as before, Strawberries, Marrow s, Dwarf Beans, Peas and Tomatoes. 



I cerlainly have never known a Tomato to produce anything but a Tonialo, 

 or a Strawberry anylhing but a Strawberry, and a dwarf culinary Pea dilfers 

 in 110 way from olhcr peas exccpt in the iength of stem, and if lliis dwarlness is 

 attribuled lo « ululation » il amounts to noihintr more than « variation ». 



