IS"FLTTENCE OF POLLElir. 133 



is usually necessary to esercise considerable care, in order 

 to preserve their distinct characteristics, and this is 

 especially true in those with variegated leaves, as seen in 

 the variegated leaved Elder, Dogwood, Ginkgo, Maples, 

 etc., for all of these possess a strong tendency to revert 

 to the plain or one-colored leaf of the parent. Through 

 bud variation we have obtained many of the most highly 

 prized ornamental trees and shrabs, both evergreen and 

 deciduous, and new ones are constantly being added to 

 the list. There is certainly a cause for the variation of 

 buds. In some plants it may be an attempt to revert to 

 some earlier form, and in others the result of some 

 element introduced through the sexual organs, either in 

 the present or some previous generation ; but whatever 

 the cause, it is certainly an inherent property of the plant 

 which is not confined to one part or single bud, for it 

 frequently occurs that several buds on the same plant, 

 but on different branches on distant parts of the stem, 

 produce shoots possessing the same characteristics. A 

 noted instance of this kind occurred a few years ago on 

 the Eemilly Ash, growing near Metz in France. This 

 tree is over sixty feet high, with stem about six feet in 

 circumference. The branches are pendulous, and the 

 variety is known as a Weeping Ash ; but three buds, one 

 on the main stem near the top and two on separate 

 branches lower down, produced shoots which assumed an 

 erect habit, and have continued in this until they have 

 become large branches. Similar freaks or bud variations 

 liave been frequently noticed on other weeping trees both 

 in this country and Europe. When a plant has shown a 

 tendency to produce these bud variations or sports, a 

 repetition may be looked for, even if the first one is 

 promptly removed. 



About ten years ago I noticed a single branch on one of 

 my specimen plants of Golden Retinispora {R. obtusa, var. 

 aurea jalumosa), which had assumed an entirely distinct 



