402 Ever-sporting Varieties 



a method will be discovered of arbitrarily pro- 

 ducing such conversions, and perhaps the easi- 

 est way to attain artificial mutations may lie 

 concealed here. But as yet not the slightest in- 

 dication of this possibility is to be found, save 

 the fallacious conclusions drawn from too 

 superficial observations. 



Unfortunately the poor strains are not very 

 interesting. Their chance of producing beauti- 

 ful instances of the anomaly for which they are 

 cultivated is too small. Exceptions to this rule 

 are only afforded by those curious and rare 

 anomalies, which command general attention, 

 and of which, therefore, instances are always 

 welcome. In such cases they are searched for 

 with perseverance, and the fact of their rarity 

 impresses itself strongly on our mind. 



Twisted stems are selected as a first example. 

 This monstrosity, called biastrepsis, consists of 

 strongly marked torsions and are seen in many 

 species with decussate leaves, though as a rule 

 it is very rare. Two instances are the most 

 generally known, those of the wild valerian 

 {Valeriana offtcinalis) and those of cultivated 

 and wild sorts of teasels (Dipsacus fidlonum, D. 

 sylvestris, and others). Both of these I have 

 cultivated during upwards of fifteen years, but 

 with contradictory results. The valerian is a 

 perennial herb, multiplying itself yearly by 



