ON TRANSPLANT EXPERIMENTS. 277 



important in causing the known natural limitation of this species and should be con- 

 sidered when it is proposed to cultivate Anthyllis as a forage plant. The Transplant 

 results suggest that on suitable land it would be a valuable and relatively persistent 

 crop. 



Plantago major has proved, even within five months, exceedingly plastic. The 

 original plant was a dwarf form and this habit has been very nearly retained on the 

 sand and to a less degree on the calcareous sand. The measurements and figures 

 given show the marked deviation in luxuriant growth which has occurred on the clay 

 and amongst the Potterne reserves, and somewhat less on the chalky clay. Further 

 developments in this species will be watched with interest. 



Silene vulgaris on the calcareous sand is developing a marked ' strict ' habit, 

 similar to that which has been many times observed in individuals among wild popu- 

 lations. It is just possible that this change may prove to have a genetical basis. On 

 the calcareous sand the foliage developed a lighter green colour, on the clay a more 

 yellowish-green colour, and on the chalky clay, a more blue-green colour than in the 

 parent. Secondary growth occurred especially on the sand. General tone was best on 

 the clay and worst on the calcareous sand. In pure S. vulgaris germination was 

 restricted to the spring on all the soils and was best on the clay and worst on the 

 calcareous sand and chalk)' clay. 



In 8. maritima, at the last record, there was a marked though irregular tendency 

 for the plants on the sand to change to plants with smaller leaves and with more 

 anthocyanin and a flatter habit than in the parent. On the calcareous sands the 

 leaves were narrower and smaller, the plants were flattened, and the calyces had much 

 more red anthocyanin than in the parent. On both clays there was little change from 

 the parent. General tone at the last record was best on the chalky clay and worst 

 on the clay (these records were made before the September drought). Seeds of S. 

 maritima have marked autumn and spring discontinuous germination on all the soils. 

 Spring seedlings were most numerous on the clay and least numerous on the calcareous 

 sand. Autumn seedlings were most numerous on the chalky clay and least numerous 

 on the clay. Autumn seedlings survived the 1928-29 winter only on the chalky clay 

 (and at Kew). 



To sum up : Centaurea nemoralis does not at present appear to be plastic, but is 

 capable of survival under a wide range of edaphic conditions. Silene vulgaris is slowly 

 plastic under certain edaphic conditions. S. maritima is decidedly more plastic than 

 its congener. Anthyllis vulneraria is not plastic and is not capable of survival under 

 a wide range of edaphic conditions. Plantago major is exceedingly plastic. 



It is obvious that the experiments, if they are to yield a maximum of conclusive 

 facts, will have to be continued for a long period of years. It is important to remember 

 that the making of soils from raw materials can be slowly followed in the beds. It 

 is hoped that periodic anal3'ses, for which arrangements have been made, will vield 

 useful pedological data. 



In Centaurea nemoralis, Silene vulgaris, S. maritima, and Anthyllis vulneraria 

 extensive genetical research is being continued at Potterne and Kew, and this involves 

 the use of lines from which the Transplant materials originated. All experimental 

 work is being correlated with field, laboratory and herbarium studies. 



Apart from actual changes in the plants and from stages in soil-making, many 

 interesting biological facts are being observed and some are embodied in this report. 

 The plants are grown in the absence of competition, and differences between all or 

 some of the plants on the different soils must, on the whole, be due to edaphic factors. 

 It is, however, necessary to emphasise that plants have an individuality, that the 

 history of a given individual is never exactly like that of any other individual, that 

 ' accidents ' happen to individuals, and that, therefore, records have usually to be of 

 a statistical nature with the limitations of this method. 

 Kew, Dec. 24th, 1929. Arthur W. Hill, 



Chairman. 



W. B. TlTRRILL, 



Secretary. 



