280 CHANGES WHICH TAKE PLACE IN PLANTS 



scarce. Now, however, there is a general wish that the 

 opinion of several experts should be got, and the Rev. Mr 

 Linton, a well-known authority, has expressed a wish to 

 know more on the snhject, and will have a flowering 

 specimen this spring. I hold the opinion that E. Stuarti 

 is a true species on the following grounds. (1) It has no 

 family resemblance whatever to Erica Mackayana. The 

 habit of the plant is entirely diiferent. The foliage has 

 some slight resemblance, but the corolla is a longish shaped, 

 compressed, purplish pink, with more resemblance to Erica 

 Mediterranea, which grows miles away. That E. Mackayana 

 is a sub-species I believe, for there is a strong family 

 resemblance ; but E. Stuarti as a species has no resemblance 

 whatever to either E. Mackayana or E. tetralix. Erica 

 ciliaris has also a strong resemblance to E. tetralix, but 

 that plant has distinct botanical distinctions that constitutes 

 it a true species. 



The bell heather type is well maintained in all three 

 forms. E. ciliaris, E. tetralix, and E. Mackayana ; never in 

 E. Stuarti, which I consider to be a true species, and a 

 very distinct one. I have flowered the plant for ten years 

 every season. It has never shown the least tendency to 

 sport or revert into the type of anything but itself. The 

 seed is so minute that up to this time I have failed 

 to raise seedlings ; but I do not dispair, and I would 

 be glad to know of anyone who has succeeded in 

 doing so. 



In the Botanical Natural Family Primulacese there are 

 two plants held by many botanists to be almost the same, 

 as far as differences or distinction exist between them. I 

 refer to Primula scotica and Primtda farinosa. Whoever 

 has seen those plants growing in their native habitat could 

 never say they were so like, that botanically there was no 

 difference between them. Primula scotica, a gem among 

 primroses, grows in thousands on sandy dunes in Caithness- 

 shire, Sutherlandshire, and often near the sea, or where the 

 sea has at one time been. Primula Jarinosa, another very 

 beautiful member of the same family, prefers a limestone 

 district, like Teesdale in Yorkshire, where it flourishes in 

 the month of June in great beauty. 



