Retrograde Varieties 133 



from time to time in sunny and sandy localities. 

 I have isolated it and cultivated it during a 

 series of years and during many generations. 

 It is quite true to its character, but the degree 

 of its coloring fluctuates between pink and white 

 and is extremely variable. Perhaps it can be 

 considered as an inconstant variety. A red- 

 flowered form of the common Begonia semper- 

 florens is cultivated under the name of '' Ver- 

 non," the white hawthorn {Crataegus Oxya- 

 cantha) is often seen with red flowers, and a 

 pink-flowered variety of the '* Silverchain " or 

 ** Bastard- Acacia " {Robinia Pseud-Acacia) is 

 not rarely cultivated. The " Crown " variety 

 of rice, oats and barley are also to be considered 

 as positive color- variations, the black being due 

 in the latter cases to a very great amount of the 

 red pigment. 



Among fruits there are also some positive 

 red varieties of greenish or yellowish species, as 

 for instance the red gooseberry {Ribes Grossu- 

 laria) and the red oranges. The red hue is far 

 more common in leaves, as seen among herbs, in 

 cultivated varieties of Coleus and in the brown- 

 leaved form of the ordinary white clover, among 

 trees and shrubs in the hazelnut {Corylus), the 

 beach (Fagits), the birch (Betida), the barberry 

 (Berberis) and many others. But though most 

 of these forms are very ornamental and abun- 



