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THE 
OCTOBER 24; 1874.] 
GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
525 
OTICE.—A SERIES of PORTRAITS of 
NOTEWORTHY ie gio Fy ryt and 
‘ANISTS is bein ae ha Nga bt ad 
CHRONICLE.” © The = followin a n tared 
separate Copies (price each), 
on applicati: mi to the Publisher, viz. : 
“Dp Hooxer, ie B., Pres. R.S. 
pt i may be had 
AMES BATEMAN, F.R.S. 
W. UNDERS, ergon. SEEMANN, Pime 
F. "> on ARCHI BAR 
Rev. M. J. er ER F.L.S. | Hon. Galsaiinr Wine, 
M. Decars ce Guon: 
G. F. Winton, A GRAY 
ac pe Hui NRY. 
4 
EUR 
- Rev. S E, M Baron ELLER. 
E. J. Lowe, F.R.S. | Pot Situ (Kew). 
= McNas. rofessor WeEsTwoopD 
OBERT 7 LL 
n REG 
RE. 
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Rickie, 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1874. 
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 
i fag 2! watts Nursery Stock, at the Exotic 
id urse: ooting, 
Monat, Oct. 264 Gite of pA lots of Dutch Bulbs, at Stevens’ 
Sale apaga P » Azal Pal Dutch 
+ eas. ms, utc 
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 28 - ¥ Bulbs, ke, a, at ‘Stevens’ Rooms a - z 
e of Nursery Stock, at hboroug 
THURSDAY; Oct. 29 Park, Brito: 
Fripay, Oct. 304 Sale of a Collection of Orchids, at Stevens’ 
[ Cli Sale of Nursery Stoek, at the 
SAturDAy, Oct. 314 Albion "Wiirsery, Stoke Newington. S. 
| Sale of Dutch Bulbs, at Stevens’ Roo 
— e 
HE study of the distribution of plants over 
the surface of the globe, or, as it is termed 
? ; | scarcely be 
what 
respecting the appearance of vegetation in the 
beginning, very little practical experience is 
it has undergone 
great changes, and is still subject to modifying 
influences, in some cases acting rapidly, and in 
rs almost or quite inappreciably. That the 
Ihysical conformation of a 
necessary to convince us that 
yet we cannot discover the exist- 
ence of any universal laws to account for the 
of certain families in this 
or that region, any more than we can for the 
association of very distinct or rag related 
limited area. 
The theory that would g 
> groups of plants 
area is very large, and it would be 
in Australia ; 3 Fuchsias, 
t or four in New Z 
fer, Graminez, &c., are found JA nearly all 
parts of the world, at all events in the most 
distant and under the most diversè oonditidas 
Bringing the degree of variation within 
Narrower compass, we have such well-defined 
as Ranunculus, Senecio, and Euphorbia, 
represented in almost all regions where plants 
bo) 
aquatilis, Alchemilla vulgaris, Montia fontana, 
1 the other hand some families are 
exclusively confined to certain countries, for 
South Africa ; 
Australia and the neighbouring islands. 
number of genera and species of very restricted 
superfluous 
oups presentin g 
istribution than many of 
are found in all temperate and tropical regions. 
Some of the smaller groups of remarkable 
structure, such as the Burmanniaceæ, Raffles- 
iaceæ, and Balanophoreæ, occur in the tropics 
both the Old and New Worlds, whilst 
members of the curious Podostemacez have 
recently been discovered both in Africa and 
Australia. We may call attention to a few 
other interesting facts relating to the distribution 
of plants. The 
dantly represented in tro 
and Asia (especially in the castera gamed 
has not, so far a 
with the exception j 
ne 
are a 
S Africa, except one IE in the oa of 
Europe ; and our modest Sundews are repre- 
sented by numerous handsome species in extra- 
There is one more circum- 
Europe or Asia Minor there are representatives 
of the following genera so closely allied that 
some of them would undoubtedly be considered 
by many botanists as varieties or races of the 
same species if not so widely separated, and 
some hold this view in spite of the difficulties 
in the way :—Li mbar, Platanus, Celtis, 
Ostrya, Fagus, eoey hts Acer, &c. 
Since the appearance of Darwin’s famous 
work on the Origin of Species, many other 
writers on the same subject have come e before 
favre! some in support. of views, or at 
in a Soe theory v Pe in 
oa ae RSR ey a 
rtain condemn his writings and hold out "siauily for 
mima all tine, save within definable limits. 
It does not come within the limits of a short 
article to enter into the fear of either party ; 
we simply wish to say a words respecting 
an inquiry that Professor ” CASE AIRY has taken 
plants. His investigations relate more especially 
to the variety of the Spruce Fir usually called 
monstrosa in this country; and the pyramidal 
variety (fastigiata) of the common Oak, Quercus 
peduñculata. Two opposite theories have been 
advanced respecting the conditions favourabl 
to the development or evolution of 
namely, i 
convincing fa can be adduced in support of 
either argum A beginning is something, 
and we hail with delight any naea of observa- 
tions bearing upon jec 
Professor CASPARY distinctly states that he 
does not believe in the origin 
fully recorded. 
sterile, abnormal, or monstrous variety, and one 
which will produce seed transmitting its peculiar 
characteristics in a more decided form, or 
simply showing a reversion to its parent. The 
almost endless variety in the forms of the Spruce 
Fir are familiar to nurserymen, and many 1 
them are well-known to eurs; but t 
origin of the most interesting of these aristis 
has not been put on rec 
We need only mention pas diverse looking 
things as the varieties pygmæa and monstrosa. 
If these reproduced themselves from seed, and 
we, in our ignorance, must call species 
as convenience goes it matters little if we are 
able to distinguish, but with weer to the 
origin of species it is of more mom 
It is with the history of the Sibert Spruce, or 
Spruces, as they are called in Germany, that Pro- 
fessor CASPARY busies himself. It is as yet un- 
certain whether there are several peng grr 
ee or whether the names a lam ie nudata, 
eae horizont alis, &c., apply — 
ency im same e join Professo A 
in the request that our correspondents will oe 
nish us with any information they may pos 
relating to the origin of the varieties cultivat 
in British gardens. In many parts of Germany, 
Bohemia, &c., Professor CASPARY has seen or 
received authentic PODOR 5 the existence 
of the Serpent Spru: 
and con 
tha k 
of Germany, 
“seminal origin. So 
Ait percen Mn seed 
ould develo ope in ruts way, ARA ti 
Erci questions, cannot be tweet at 
esent. ere is, however, this important 
thing to note, that the oldest trees known do 
fi markable trees of this sort in 
the Schriften An Physick.-Cekon parses 
ñ. j only re 
constancy of certain varieties 
