114 TUAXSACTIOXS AND PKOCEEDINGS OF THE [ Sess. LXii. 



the colour of flowers was very natural to suppose, but Mr. 

 Barr, who happened to be present at the discussion, was of 

 the opinion that the character of the soil had much to do 

 with colour brilliance. He had noticed that daffodils 

 grown in certain districts exhibited special shades of 

 colour, and thought it probable that a chemical analysis 

 of the soils of these districts would show peculiarities that 

 might explain the differences observed, and perhaps shed 

 some light on the relation of colour in plants to soil com- 

 position. I offered to make analyses of soils where 

 daffodils grew, showing the characteristic tints, if he would 

 send me carefully taken samples. In due course there 

 arrived three samples of soil, the description and analyses 

 of which were as follows : — • 



No. 1. Soil from the Asturias, where the Narcissus 

 2Mllidus, pnecox, grows of a pale sulphur colour. 



No. 2. Soil from Galicia, where the hybrid Narcissus 

 Johnstoni, Queen of Spain, grows of a clear yellow colour. 



No. 3. Soil from the mountains of Leon, where Nar- 

 rissus minimus grows of a full yellow colour. 



If we regard these soils from an agricultural stand- 

 point — that is to say, from the })oint of view of fertility or 

 capability of producing an abundant growtli — they are 

 seen to present great differences. No. L would be 

 classified as a very poor soil. No. 2 as a soil of medium 

 quality, and No. 3 as a rich soil — in respect of those 

 substances which are chiefly required for the nourishment 



