UI.J. 



Chap. XI. 



FLO WEES. 



379 



be sins 



m 



orf 



of variation both by buds and seeds. 30 An English wild plant, the Geranium 

 prateme, when cultivated in a garden, has been seen to produce on the 

 same plant both blue and white, and striped blue and white flowers. 31 



Chrysanthemum. — This plant frequently sports, both by its lateral 

 branches and occasionally by suckers. A seedling raised by Mr. Salter 

 has produced by bud-variation six distinct sorts, five different in colour 

 and one in foliage, all of which are now fixed. 32 The varieties which 

 were first introduced from China were so excessively variable, "that 

 it was extremely difficult to tell which was the original colour of the 

 variety, and which was the sport." The same plant would produce 

 one year only buff-coloured, and next year only rose-coloured flowers; 

 and then would change again, or produce at the same time flowers of 

 both colours. These fluctuating varieties are now all lost, and, when a 

 branch sports into a new variety, it can generally be propagated and kept 

 true; but, as Mr. Salter remarks, "every sport should be thoroughly 

 " tested in different soils before it can be really considered as fixed, as many 

 " have been known to run back when planted in rich compost ; but when 

 " sufficient care and time are expended in proving, there will exist little 

 " danger of subsequent disappointment." Mr. Salter informs me that 

 with all the varieties the commonest kind of bud-variation is the production 

 of yellow flowers, and, as this is the primordial colour, these cases may bo 

 attributed to reversion. Mr. Salter has given me a list of seven differently 

 coloured chrysanthemums, which have all produced branches with yellow 

 flowers ; but three of them have also sported into other colours. With any 

 change of colour in the flower, the foliage generally changes in a cor- 

 responding manner in lightness or darkness. 



Another Compositous plant, namely, Centauria cyanus, when culti- 

 vated in a garden, not unfrequently produces on the same root flowers 

 of four different colours, viz., blue, white, dark-purple, and particoloured. 33 

 The flowers of Anthemis also vary on the same plant. 34 



i? oseg ._ Many varieties of the rose are known or are believed to have 

 originated by bud-variation. 35 The common double moss-rose was imported 

 into England from Italy about the year 1735. 36 Its origin is unknown, but 

 from analogy it probably arose from the Provence rose (B. centifoha) by 

 bud-variation; for branches of the common moss-rose have several times 

 been known to produce Provence roses, wholly or partially destitute of moss : 

 I have seen one such instance, and several others have been recorded. 3 ' 



,p 



30 For other cases of bud-variation in 

 this same variety, see ' Gardener's 

 Chron.,' 1861, pp. 578, 600, 925. For 

 other distinct' cases of bud- variation in 

 the genus Pelargonium, see ' Cottage 

 Gardener,' 1860, p. 194. 



31 Rev. W. T. Bree, in Loudon's ' Gard. 

 Mag.,' vol. viii., 1832, p. 93. 



32 'The Chrysanthemum, its History 

 and Culture,' by J. Salter, 1865, p. 41, 

 &c. 



Geschichte der Natur/ 



33 Bree, in Loudon's 'Gard. Mag.,' 

 vol. viii., 1832, p. 93. 



34 Bronn, 

 B. ii. s. 123. ; , 



ss T. Bivers, ' Kose Amateur's Guide, 



1837, p. 4. 



36 Mr. Shatter, quoted in ' Gardener s 



Chron.,' 1848, p. 759. _ 



37 'Transact. Hort. Soc, vol. iv. 

 1822, p. 137; ' Gard. Chron.,' 1842, p. 

 422. 



