FLOWER SPORTS. 



i6i 



ceous character ; there is much to choose from, but great 

 confusion exists in their nomenclature, and many sorts 

 so closely resemble each other as to puzzle the most 

 skillful botanists. The best authorities give about fifty 

 species in the genus, but for garden purposes there are 

 practically fewer. Soil and cultivation cause such a dif- 

 ference in appearance that varieties under different con- 

 ditions differ as much from themselves, as far as effect 



in the garden goes, as do some of the species. They are 

 easily propagated b)- dividing the roots, but do not like 

 being often disturbed. Left alone in rich, moist soil, 

 with no roots of other plants crowding them, they will 

 rejoice our hearts and brighten our gardens in summer. 

 Even those whose peculiar odor is distasteful as cut- 

 flowers are delightful in the garden. D. W. 



FLOWER SPORTS, 



PARTICULARLY WITH REFERENCE TO COLOR VARIATION. 



The laws of nature that govern the changes of 

 color in vegetation are little understood, but are of 

 great interest to investigators, and anything tending 

 to advance the study of them should be preserved. 

 We have reduced two little cuts from the Gardeii- 



c 7' Chroitic/c, 



which also says: 

 " We give an 

 illustration o f 



A Chrysanthemum Sport. 



1^ the chrysanthe- 

 mum Source 

 d'Or, sent us by 

 Mr. Maries, of 

 Lytham. One- 

 half of the 

 flower-head 

 consisted of yel- 

 low, flat strap- 

 shaped florets ; 

 the other of dark golden bronze florets, revolute at 

 the edges. Such cases are always interesting, and 

 are susceptible of various interpretations. That 

 which seems most plausible in this case is, that the 

 appearance is due to the unmixing or separation of 

 previously blended components. In the case of the 

 chrysanthemum, which has been crossed and re- 

 crossed, and crossed again, for an untold number 

 of years, it is evident that the breed must be very 

 mixed indeed, and there can be little wonder if 

 a ' return to first principles ' occasionally occurs. 

 This theory is not susceptible of actual proof in 

 the chrysanthemum. We are glad, then, to call in 

 support the witness of Veitch's calanthe. The his- 

 tory of this is known beyond dispute ; it is a hybrid 

 between C. rosea and C. vestita. In the flower in 



question, the two heretofore combined elements are 

 nearly separated. Assuming the explanation now 

 given to be a correct one, there are still many prob- 

 lems left unsolved. What has induced the separa- 

 tion at a particular time ? Why does the change 

 occur on one or two particular shoots and those only? 

 Why does the same change occur in the same va- 

 riety at the same time in widely different localities ? 



Ah, why ? It may 

 y^^^j seem disheartening, 



if not futile, to some 

 people to seek the 

 explanation of such 

 things, but whether 

 we fail in our main 

 object or not, the 

 search is always full 

 of interest to those 

 who keep, or try to 

 'keep an open 

 mind,' and some- 

 thing of interest and 

 value is sure to crop 

 up to reward the rational curiosity of the searcher 

 after truth. " 



The theory of our contemporary on this particular 

 phase of plant variegation is of considerable inter- 

 est, as the careful investigator will at once seek to 

 test it by application to cases which have come 

 under his own observation. The question will at 

 once arise as to whether the same theory will ex- 

 plain the variegation of foliage in natural "sports." 

 Why is not this simply a phase of the usually ap- 

 plied theory of reversion with which all well in- 

 formed horticulturists are familiar ? 



Calanthe Sport. 



