510 JOURNAL OP THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



thus was our present race of Pansies established. The variations 

 thus obtained were not " species," but varieties. 



All flowers raised from seed which differ from those which 

 produced the seed are varieties, no matter how long the said 

 varieties may have been perpetuated by cuttings or other methods 

 of increase. It is the same with plants raised from " sports." 

 As all exhibitors of flowers ought to comprehend the essential 

 difference between the species and varieties, and as it is certain 

 that many do not so comprehend, no apology is made for these 

 observations. Instructing the inexperienced, I suspect, always 

 has been and always will be the most useful teaching of all. 



The word " species " is not nearly so often used as the domi- 

 nating factor in schedules as was the case a few years ago. This 

 may be the result of disqualifications plus the discovery that 

 much better displays of flowers are obtained since its abandon- 

 ment. An incident at a provincial show is illustrative of both 

 propositions. Prizes were offered for stands of " twelve bunches 

 of hardy herbaceous flowers, distinct species." Thirteen stands 

 were staged in competition. Only one exhibitor was within the 

 conditions, and his stand was the least imposing. The others 

 contained " varieties " of Delphiniums, Antirrhinums, Carnations, 

 as well as of Roses and shrubby Spiraeas ; or, in other words, the 

 flowers were not all " species " nor all of herbaceous plants. 

 The first prize was given to the least attractive but most correct 

 exhibit, the cards being withdrawn from the others, and extra 

 prizes granted to three of the stands " on their merits," as an 

 equitable method of meeting the case. This was long before 

 the recommendations of the Royal Horticultural Society in its 

 Rales for judging. 



As to the word " sort," though still found in some schedules, it 

 ought not to be used in any. It means anything. It evidently 

 applies to " varieties " in most of them, while in dictionaries it 

 is defined as meaning "kinds or species." An exhibitor may 

 " sort " out or choose the best of any of them for his object, but 

 when sorted they are either M kinds " or " varieties " for purposes 

 of exhibition, and except under very special circumstances these 

 two terms suffice. As the word " herbaceous " has been mentioned, 

 it may be said that the most concise definition of it is this. 

 " Herbaceous plants are plants which produce stems annually 

 from a perennial root." (" Johnson's Gardeners' Dictionary.") 



