EEPOET OX VAKIOUS MANURES AT CHISWICK. 
19 
berry which he believed (and showed as good reasons as I can 
now for his belief) to be self-produced hybrids between a Easp- 
berry and a Blackberry, and of w^hich I have still plants now in 
my garden. All this, I opine, shows how much Nature, if left to 
lier own means, works out those varieties many of which, from 
their origin being unconsidered, we have been accustomed to re- 
gard as species ; and thus, too, if all the lost links were re- 
covered, might all vegetable forms be united in a bond of brother- 
hood. 
" Bliododendron Dalliousice. — Permit me, ere I close, to direct 
the attention of the Committee to another singular instance of 
divergence, which Dr. Hooker some years ago, in putting a (Ques- 
tion, has fixed my attention to year by year since. He asked if the 
blooms of the Bliododendron Dalkowsicd, which when first flowered 
in Britain were, as in their Himalayan homes, pure white, had 
since become with us here also, as they had at Kew, of a prim- 
rose-yellow colour. That was the first year, I believe, he had 
observed the change, and it was the first year I observed it here ; 
and it has so continued; and this season I think it is more yellow^ 
than before ; but whereas formerly it was spotted, as if by decay, 
I have observed few or no spots this season." 
yi. Eeport on the Observations made in the Grardens of the 
Boyal Horticultural Society at Chiswick as to the Efiect of 
Various Manures on particular Species of Plants. By Dr. M. 
T. Mastees, P.E.S. 
The object and mode of conducting these experiments may be 
gleaned from the following extracts from a Eeport laid before the 
Scientific Committee by Dr. A. Yoelcker : — 
" At the Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Eoyal 
Horticultural Society, held June 2nd, 1868, Dr. Grilbert brought 
forward the subject of Hhe characters of growth by virtue of 
which one plant dominates over another in mixed herbage under 
the influence of diff'erent manures &c.' 
" This subject, having excited considerable interest and discus- 
sion, was referred to the Chemical Subcommittee, with the request 
to report whether the Subcommittee deem it desirable to recom- 
mend experiments to be tried as likely to throw further light on 
various questions relating to vegetable growth and the specific 
action of certain fertilizing elements, such as potash, phospliate of 
lime, nitrogenous matters, &c. 
