1886. | A Study of the Dandelion. 7 
nishes a spring pot-herb; the plant is, however, not mentioned in 
L Horticulteur Francais, 1824-5, nor in Nouveau Dictionnaire du 
Jardinage, 1826. Vilmorin (Bon Jardinier, 1882) states its cul- 
ture in France as dating from 1868, and the firm of Vilmorin, 
Andrew et Cie in 1885 offer four sorts of seed, one, the “improved 
moss” as new. In Vilmorin’s Les Plantes Potageres, 1883, two 
forms are figured, Pissenlit ameliore a cceur plein and Pissenlit 
ameliore tres hatif. The first of these is named in Album de 
Cliches, Pissenlit ameliore frise, and a fourth name or third form 
is figured, the Pissenlit mousse. 
1. The type of the Pissenlit mousse can be readily found 
among the wild plants of the station grounds, very closely resem- 
bling Vilmorin’s figure in every respect when growing on rich 
soil except that the leaf divisions are scarcely as much crowded. 
2. The type of the Pissenlit ameliore a cceur plein is perhaps 
to be recognized in Anton Pinzus’ figure, 1561, and is certainly 
to be found growing wild at the station. 
3. The Pissenlit ameliore tres hatif is figured in 1616, the 
resemblanoé between the two figures, the one by Dodonzus and 
the other by Vilmorin, is very close. It is also to be found 
growing wild on the station grounds, 
The influence of rich soil and protected growth upon the dan- 
delion is to give increased size and succulency to the plant, and 
to thicken the branching of the leaves, in the direction of answer- 
ing the description of a cwur plein ; but this influence appears to 
be limited by the heredity of the plant, as the types do not react 
to an equal extent. This fullness or hearting in No. 2 seems 
to come from the strong tendency in plants of this type to divide 
the root into a group of crowns; the leaves, also, in rich soil, 
grow rather upright with the upper portion curving outwards, 
giving a curled appearance to the plant, and thus justifying Vil- 
morin’s alternate name “frise.” The No. 3 form is more succu- 
ent in rich soil than the others, attains size distinctly earlier, is 
less crowded and less upright in growth, and in some cases is 
very closely adpressed to the ground. No. 1 type does not in 
all cases seem to be a depauperate form, as it is found on fertile 
soil along with the rest, it is usually small, but in some instances — 
is of fair size and quite bunchy growth. A form with nearly 
entire leaves has not yet reached culture under a distinct name; 
this type is distinctly smaller than the rest, and some plants have 
