THE FASCIATION OF PLANTS. 23 
fasciation, which is in reality the union or banding together 
of two or more of the stems, or the inflorescences, of the 
plant, this union, in the case of the stems, generally pre- 
senting a flattened appearance. This usually results in 
the inflorescence assuming a crowded and often really 
deformed appearance. It is to be found occasionally in 
nature, as well as in gardens, and though not specially 
frequent, except in certain propagated subjects, comes now 
and again within the ken of the observer. What is the 
reason for this condition? Can it be produced artificially ? 
Is it a sign of redundant vigour or of injury or disease? 
Fasciation has not been much studied, and I have been 
unable to lay my hands on anything but the most meagre 
statements regarding it, so that what I have to say is mainly 
the result of my own observations during a series of years. 
The question, ‘‘ Can it be produced artificially?’’ can 
possibly be answered best by citing the statement of an emi- 
nent French observer and botanist, M. L. Geneau de Lamar- 
liere, who made a series of experiments. He informs us that 
the mutilation he practised upon the stems and branches of 
the subject selected for experiment caused the formation of 
dormant abnormal buds, and that these developed into 
branches and inflorescences which were more or less fas- 
ciated. This mutilation was practised on the principal stems 
and branches, and the natural assumption from these experi- 
ments was that fasciation arises originally from mutilation. 
The experience of this French botanist was, it may be 
remarked, apparently confined to experiments upon one sub- 
ject, Crepis taraxacifolia, one of the Hawksbeards. I should 
have liked to have had the opportunity of knowing more 
about these experiments, as the plant chosen hardly answers 
to the account of the experiments, seeing that this is not a 
woody plant, and branches in the ordinary sense of the term 
are non-existent. I think, however, we may accept the 
statement of the botanist that such fasciation was produced 
in this way. There is nothing inherently improbable in the 
statement, and the probabilities are all in its favour. 
We come to the question of whether it is a sign of 
redundant vigour or of disease. This is much more difficult 
