244 THE FLORIST AND 



We "will begin with the study of a plant. It is composed of two distinct 

 systems — the vascular and the woody. Those parts of a plant wjiich have 

 most reference to the former, have a tendency to change by cultivation. 

 Every part of a plant belongs to one or the pther of these systems ; and 

 each part as it is successively developed, is but a higher stage of the same 

 thing. In reference to our subject we have to do with stamens. They be- 

 long to the vascular division, and are but a higher stage of the petal, while 

 these again, are but highly developed sepals ; and the latter but perfected 

 bracts or leaves. All, or any one of these, belonging to that system, are lia- 

 ble to change by culture and circumstance. Take leaves to begin with. If 

 any gentleman will take the trouble of going into a wood of white Oak he 

 will find that the leaves are merely lobed, often nearly entire, and resem- 

 bling very much the leaves of the British oak on the branches nearest the 

 base of the tree, while those on the top are very deeply sinuated, often near- 

 ly laciniate. The most plausible inference at once is, that tjip absence of 

 much light to, £he lower branches, has made the difference. Qn looking for 

 a tree that has stood for years in the full light by itself, we find our 

 pathesis correct, as there all the leaves are uniform. This shows how 

 the forms of leaves are influenced by light. 



Other principles of cultivation have a similar influence, soil will alter the 

 smoothness or downiness of leaves, as well as their color and form. By 

 ^taking off a part of any plant with these peculiarities, and making of it a 

 distinct individual, we give it a greater power to perpetuate itself. The 

 varigated leaved shoots, that sometimes come on Evonymous japonicus, if 

 taken off retain their peculiarity through many different circumstances ; but 

 if they are planted in a wet soil and shady situation, they will very frequently 

 return to their original green state ; going a long way to prove tliat a dry soil 

 and exposed situation first caused the change, and that when taken off, they 

 would retain that change in any circumstances, not opposed to the original 

 cause — when that occurred they assumed their old form. I £ake this ex- 

 ample because it has probably been obserypd by many, and as stamens are 

 subject to the same laws, being in fact the same thing more highly de- 

 veloped, it will be apparent that they too must also change their form and 

 character to sujt the circumstances that govern them. Let us get amongst 

 the stamens — take the Catalpa. The old Botanists placed this plant in 

 their class Didynamia, { which requires four stamens — their specimens 

 from Virginia warranted them in so doing. But the English plants will 

 never produce but two, so their Botanists placed it in Diandria — so in 

 this district, where the catalpa is so far removed from its most natural 

 localities, it yery rarely perfects all of its stamens. On the other hand 



