ADDITIONAL NOTES, ETC. 489 



seeds of P. elatior. If the experiments could be confi- 

 dently relied upon, the conclusion that all three are varie- 

 ties of one species would be perfectly established ; because 

 the result is shortly thus : P. veris = P. elatior, P. elatior 

 = P. vulgaris ; and things equal to the same (botanically, 

 producing or produced by the same) are equal to each 

 other. But I at least, for several reasons, do not rely 

 upon these experiments. Firstly, because the published 

 writings of Mr. Sidebotham have impressed me with an 

 unfavourable opinion of his accuracy in matters of science. 

 Secondly, because I have no sufficient confidence in his 

 botanical competence to refer varieties correctly to their 

 species ; to do which must be a very necessary qualifica- 

 tion in thus experimenting. Thirdly, because moderate 

 experience in such pursuits would enable a botanist to 

 detect likely sources of fallacy or vitiation m the conduct- 

 ing of the experiments, as they are detailed by Mr. Side- 

 botham liimself ; and since he does not show that those 

 likely sources of error were known and avoided, his own 

 assertion of the experiments having been conducted " with 

 such precautions that the result might be relied on ", will 

 certainly not make that result reliable. I hold the expe- 

 riments, as reported, to be of no value towards determining 

 the specific identity of P. elatior with either of the other 

 two species. But they may be held to support other results 

 ah'eady reached by a more careful process ; namely, that 

 certain intermediate forms (whether hybrids of the two, or 

 varieties of either or both) can produce P. veris and P. 

 vulgaris, and can in turn be produced by them. But 

 however strongly this result may point to an identity be- 

 tween P. vulgaiis and P. veris as one species, it is not 

 alone sufficient to establish that identity as an absolute 

 fact. 



VOL. III. 3 R 



