xl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



flowers were yellow, pink, and buff with flat standards, and yellow and 

 pink with waved standards. Waved forms had not so far occurred in 

 buff colours. 



(6) ' Bouverie ' (pink and cream) x ' Navy Blue ' gave in the first 

 generation purple. In the following generation segregation into purple, 

 pink, pink with cream, cream and tinged white occurred, and each of these 

 types may or may not be flaked. 



(7) If this be compared with the results obtained by crossing another 

 pink with 1 Navy Blue,' the same colours are produced, but no flaking 

 occurs owing to the absence of the determining factor in one of the 

 parents. 



The series demonstrated the possibility of predicting the colour of the 

 offspring in the second generation of any particular cross with great 

 certainty, and showed the facility with which any particular two 

 characters may be combined in any plants. In answer to questions, Mr. 

 Biffen said that it was impossible to say beforehand in the case of two 

 whites whether or not they carried the colour-producing factors. This 

 could only be determined by experimental crossing. Several members 

 remarked upon the desirability of trying the effect of crossing the wild 

 sweet pea of Sicily with some of those known at present. A hearty vote 

 of thanks was accorded to Mr. Biffen for his exhibit and explanatory 

 remarks. 



So-called Improved Clover. — Rev. Professor Henslow showed on 

 behalf of Mr. A. G. Leighton, of Newcastle, Staffs, specimens of Mr. 

 Leighton's improved clover. Mr. Leighton wrote : — " The form which I 

 have produced assumes a more permanent character than the commercial 

 plant. This qualification of permanency was the condition required ; for 

 that derived from commercial seed appeared to run through the cycle of 

 life during one summer ; this having been brought about by the system of 

 producing seed for sale during the first year, the consequence being an 

 annual tendency which by this continued selection becomes fixed and 

 hereditary. I find that the period of life may be shortened in Trifolium 

 medium, which brings with it more seeding capabilities combined with 

 succulency and size of foliage. In like manner I find that T. pratense 

 can be made more permanent, and this permanency brings with it a more 

 procumbent habit, less succulency and size." The matter of clover 

 standing over the first winter becomes a question of national importance ; 

 farmers appeared to have a good plant at autumn, but the following spring 

 all the clover had gone. This was attributed to clover sickness, but the 

 fungus which is said to produce the trouble accompanies the death of 

 most annuals ; therefore we may rightly say clover sickness was merely a 

 fungus which accompanied the death of the plant. 



The experiment conducted at Harpur Adams College, Newport, proves 

 the truth of our investigations. A six-acre field was divided into three 

 sections of two acres each. 



Two acres, plot 1 : ordinary commercial seed from seedsman No. 1. 



Two acres, plot 2 : seed of plants referred to above. 



Two acres, plot 3 : ordinary commercial seed from seedsman No. 2. 



At harvest, the first autumn after sowing, when the cereals were cut, 

 and for some weeks after on plots Nos. 1 and 3, a good amount of clover 



