Chap. XL 



OF THE CHAPTER. 



409 



conclusion. In such cases as the latter it would appear that the 

 transformation stands in no direct relation to the conditions 

 of life. 



We have seen that varieties produced from seeds and from 

 buds resemble each other so closely in general appearance, that 

 they cannot possibly be distinguished. Just as certain species 

 and groups of species, when propagated by seed, are more vari- 

 able than other species or genera, so it is in the case of certain 

 bud- varieties. Thus the Queen of England Chrysanthemum has 

 produced by this latter process no less than six, and Eollisson's 

 Unique Pelargonium four distinct varieties ; moss-roses have also 

 produced several other moss-roses. The Kosacese have varied 

 by buds more than any other group of plants ; but this may be in 

 large part due to so many members having been long cultivated ; 

 but within this one group, the peach has often varied by buds, 

 whilst the apple and pear, both grafted trees extensively cul- 

 tivated, have afforded, as far as I can ascertain, extremely few 

 instances of bud- variation. 



The law of analogous variation holds good with varieties pro- 

 duced by buds, as with those produced from seed : more than 

 one kind of rose has sported into a moss-rose ; more than one 

 kind of camellia has assumed an hexagonal form ; and at least 

 seven or eight varieties of the peach have produced nectarines. 



The laws of inheritance seem to be nearly the same with 

 seminal and bud-varieties. We know how commonly reversion 

 comes into play with both, and it may affect the whole, or only 

 segments, of a leaf, flower, or fruit. When the tendency to 

 reversion affects many buds on the same tree, it becomes 

 covered with different kinds of leaves, flowers, or fruit; but 

 there is reason to believe that such fluctuating varieties have 

 generally arisen from seed. It is well known that, out of a 

 number of seedling varieties, some transmit their character much 

 more truly by seed than others; so with bud-varieties some 

 retain their character by successive buds more truly than others ; 

 of which instances have been given with two kinds of variegated 

 Euonymus and with certain kinds of tulips. Notwithstanding 

 the sudden production of bud-varieties, the characters thus 

 acquired are sometimes capable of transmission by seminal 

 reproduction : Mr. Eivers has found that moss-roses generally 

 vol. i. 2 E 



