134 ^ 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



RuDBECKiA HiRTA var. RUBRA 11. var. Like the type with 

 the exception that ah the ray-flowers are colored a deep 

 orange-brown, which is especially noticeable on the back or 

 outer surfaces. Type in my own collection. 



RuDBECKiA HIRTA var. ANNULATA u. var. Similar to 

 the type but with the outer tips of the ray-flowers light 

 orange-brown, the oidinary yellow color of the rays thus 

 forming a ring or circle about the disk flowers. Type in 

 my collection. 



It may be added that the law of the correlation of color 

 holds good for these plants. Those that are likely to bear 

 abnormal flower-heads may be selected in the seed bed, long 

 before it is possible for them to produce flowers. Indeed, 

 should anybody wish to follow my experiments and lack 

 brown-blotched specimens with which to begin, it seems likely 

 that the common form with the darkest colored stems could, in 

 all probability, be induced to break and give forms such as 

 my plants have given. The color seems to be latent, rather 

 than absent. At any rate, the experiment would be worth 

 trying. Among my specimens of the common form, a semi- 

 double variety has developed. This will be carefully prop- 

 agated in expectation of securing a completely double form. 



The results attained with Riidbcckia in so short a time 

 is additional proof of the statement, frequently made, that 

 almost any plant, properly handled, can be made to yield a 

 variety of new forms. The greatest success will likely attend 

 one's efforts if they are directed toward encouraging variation 

 in parts already known to vary, but a careful selection of 

 normal plants subsequently bred with a single end in view 

 ought to give interesting results if long continued. 



