448 THE SURVIVAL OF THE UNLIKE. [xXVIII. 



America is because we grow our plants but a single 

 season, and we therefore keep them nearly or perhaps 

 even wholly true to name, so far as this species of 

 variation is concerned ; yet it is possible, as these 

 facts show, for even cutting -plants to vary from 

 the original types. So far as known, the running of 

 the colors is confined to the party-colored sorts, 

 although it very rarely affects the picotees. The fol- 

 lowing interesting remarks upon the vagaries of run 

 flowers are from Martin Rowan, an English grower : 

 "The run flowers, whether taking the form of selfs 

 or fancies, * * * are often very handsome, and 

 one is frequently tempted to layer the stock of them 

 in the hope of . fully retaining their new character : 

 but in my experience they are never so good as in 

 the first season of the sport, coming after that always 

 thinner in the flower and less brilliant in color. Oc- 

 casionally they will go back to their original character, 

 as was the case with Mr. Barlow's fine scarlet bizarre, 

 Robert Houlgrave, which was largely productive of 

 run flowers the first season of its distribution, but 

 the run stock of which for the most part returned to 

 its original character the following season." There 

 is still much discussion as to the cause of running, 

 some attributing it to soil, others to the season and 

 still others to the methods of growing ; but it is plain 

 that it is only a spontaneous variation or reversion in 

 varieties which are not well fixed, and it is proof 

 that the cultivated carnation is in a state of great 

 instability. 



3. It needs no argument to convince you that 

 changing fashions and the introduction of better 

 varieties are constantly driving out the older car- 



