CHANGES WHICH TAKE PLACE IN PLANTS 279 



been long engaged in gathering specimens, which were in 

 fine state, when I directed attention to a slender form 

 of Erica, growing among E. Mackayana ; but it was not 

 supposed to be anything novel till I showed Mr Robert 

 Lindsay, who was working next me, who thought the 

 plant a distinct novelty, and a most remarkable plant. 

 Digging up plenty of specimens, we returned to Cashel 

 Bay Hotel, where we joined our friends. This new Erica 

 was submitted to critical eyes, and a universal opinion 

 expressed that a new form had been discovered. Considering 

 that I had been on the summit of Cashel mountain in the 

 morning, and not with much success, I felt rather elated 

 with my good luck on Roundhill. Although we failed to 

 find Erica ciliaris at the station indicated by the late Prof. 

 Balfour, I believe we were never near the real locality, which 

 I am strongly of opinion is near Roundstone. The new 

 Erica is a plant of slender growth ; tips of the short pale 

 green and yellow ; the corolla compressed of purplish pink 

 colour, and the habit of the plant rather prostrate. On 

 returning to town, specimens were submitted to Dr Macfarlane, 

 now Professor of Botany in the University of Philadelphia, 

 a skilled botanist and microscopist, who critically examined 

 the plants, and came to the conclusion — in an exhaustive 

 paper on the subject, read by him at the Botanical Society, 

 Edinburgh — that this Erica was no hybrid, but a sub- 

 species of Erica Mackayana. It was named then and there 

 by the Botanical Society, Erica tetralix Mackayana sub-sp. 

 Stuarti, after the finder. After growing and flowering 

 the plant for more than ten years, I have arrived at the 

 conclusion that Erica Stuarti is a true species. My friend, 

 Mr Lindsay, is of a similar opinion. He writes me, that 

 "I am by no means pleased that your Erica, a real novelty, 

 is relegated to a position as sub-species, as it is much more 

 distinct than many true species." Mr Lindsay, formerly 

 Curator Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, has worked more 

 than any man I know in hybridizing species and crossing 

 varieties ; and from the behaviour of the plant with me, I 

 consider it to be a species, and a very distinct one. 



It is only now that Erica Stuarti has come under the 

 general notice of botanical authorities, as specimens were 



