396 FLOWERS. Chap. X. 



the hyacinth, like po many previous plants, when long cnltivated 

 and closely watched, is found to offer many singular variations. 



In the two last chapters I have given in some detail the 

 range of variation, and the history, as far as known, of a 

 considerable number of plants, which have been cultivated 

 for various jiurposes. But some of the most variable plants, 

 such as Kidney-beans, Capsicum, Millets, Sorghum, &e., have 

 been passed over ; for botanists are not at all agreed which 

 kinds ought to rank as species and which as varieties ; 

 and the wild parent-species are unknown. ^^^ Many plants 

 Laig cultivated in tropical countries, such as the Banana, 

 have produced numerous varieties; but as these have never 

 been described with even moderate care, they are here also 

 passed over. Nevertheless, a sufficient, and perhaps more 

 than sufficient, number of cases have been given, so that the 

 reader may be enabled to judge for himself on the nature and 

 great amount of variation which cultivated plants have 

 undergone. 



»" Alph. de Caadolle, ' Gdograph. Bot.,' p. 98a. 



