50 



in a few cases actual fertilization embryo divisions. We have 

 already mounted 400 slides for searching next term, and hope to 

 reap a rich harvest of cytological data. Among these are various 

 presumed natural hybrids. . . In each case we brought also 

 a dried specimen of flower buds and leaves for comparison with 

 the original descriptions of Christ and Crepin .... We have 

 also about 150 specimens collected in other places this summer, 

 representing as many distinct species of the systematist. These 

 in addition to 445 forms examined and analysed during the last 

 four years by us bring the total of individuals of Rosa examined 

 cytologically and analysed taxonomically by five different 

 observers (six with my wife) to over 1000, and since these include 

 almost all the known species, we should soon I think be in a 

 position to do more than state the problems of their probable 

 evolution and classification .... I am quite excited to hear 

 of your trip to Siberia, and Lake Gaikal in particular . . . This 

 is precisely the district from which I am expecting some great 

 things in Rosa, as it has been so little explored, and it is in the 

 very heart of likely things. We do not yet know for instance 

 how far East the European and Western Asiatic pentaploids 

 and irregular tetraploids and hexaploids extend. Some say to 

 Lake Baikal, while others think the LIrals and the Caspian are 

 the limits. There is however much evidence that these caninas 

 forms are more or less coincident with the European glaciation 

 area of the Pleistocene, and if so this throws much light on their 

 origin. It is curious that nowhere else do these so called 

 crypthybrids exist, and they are the main Rosa flora in Europe 

 today." 



What would it be, now, to be young, and enter into this 

 kingdom of marvels! But it is something to live to see the first 

 act of the play, and perchance have some little part therein. 

 For many reasons, it is the boreal flora which especially lends 

 itself to these investigations, but it must be studied as a whole, 

 right around the world. 



University of Colorado, 

 Boulder, Col. 



