6 



zation in many more individuals than those which constitute the 

 dififerentiating features in mbrinervis, scintillajis, gigas, clliptica, 

 S2(bovata, and others. 



Again tlie inspection of the cultures made in Amsterdam and 

 New York demonstrates that the last-named locality offers more 

 favorable soil and climate for the evening-primroses. Correlated 

 with this I am able to report that careful attention to the cultures 

 has resulted in an increase of the proportion of mutants from the 

 five per cent, maximum of de Vries to more than six per cent, in 

 the last season, in the American cultures, and to say that some 

 forms which did not reach maturity, and others which did not 

 occur, in Amsterdam, may find in New York a climate in which 

 they carry out their entire development. The cultures of 

 Lamarck's evening-primrose now being carried on include 14 

 recognizable mutants, and it is pertinent to state that I have 

 mutants of other species which will be duly described after they 

 have completed a cycle of development. 



All components of the environment may not be taken to be of 

 equal value in the induction of new qualities, and I by no means 

 wish to give the impression that the problem is on the point of 

 being solved, but our hopes have been raised to the highest pitch 

 that we may soon be able to discern the factors more or less 

 directly concerned. 



To be able to bring the causes operative in the formation and 

 structural expression of qualities, that is, the moving forces of 

 evolution, within the range of experimental investigation would 

 be a triumph worthy the best effort of the naturalist ; in that it 

 would give us the power to give new positions to qualities and 

 thus produce new organisms, its importance would rank well with 

 that of any biological achievement of the last half century. 



New York Hotanicai. Garukn. 



A PASPALUM NKW TO TIIK WEST INDIES 



I5y (Jr.oKc;!-, V. Nash 



In working over some grass material secured by Mr. A. H. 

 Curti.ss (no. 379) on the Isle of Pines, just to the south of Cuba, 



