17 



plant by the left hand, it was brushed with the right liohtly 

 and rapidly with the soft haired brush, with a circular move- 

 ment arcHind, but outside the green eye. After a few min- 

 utes' brushing a slight alteration in the hue was detected ; 

 continuing the process, soon a new and totally different 

 color began to declare itself. The brushing was continued 

 for fifteen minutes in all, when there was displayed a per- 

 manent circular band of a violet color around the green 

 center, the untouched outer portion retaining its original 

 crimson hue. 



Another blossom freshly expanded was tested. It was 

 brushed for a few minutes only, when it became of a pale 

 violet color, and then, it being a late hour in the evening, 

 the plant was set aside till morning. In the morning it was 

 found that this pale violet color had faded to a clear white ! 



This Chinese primrose plant therefore had beside the 

 regular crimson flowers, one with a deep violet circular 

 band, and another with a white band ! 



The results were not only interesting, but decidedly sur- 

 prising ! Some time later a variety was procured with a 

 rich purple eye, otherwise of a similar crimson color. The 

 pur[)le eye in this was experimented upon ; with a few 

 strokes of the brush, lasting but a moment or two, every 

 particle of the purple color disappeared as if by magic and 

 was replaced by green. Similar results were obtained from 

 other varieties, some more successful than others, iind de- 

 pending somewhat upon the age and condition of the flower. 



Referring to these colors produced by friction upon the 

 Chinese primrose, it would seem that some natural examples 

 of red colored flowers with blue or white spots might be 

 found in which insects induced the spots. In fact such are 

 occasionally to be found. Among the primroses themselves, 

 whitish areas are often seen near the base of the corolla, 

 and also in other blue flowers. 



Viola cucullata, which at first is usually of a reddish-purple 

 hue, when growing in wet woods has generally a bluish or 



