SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, FEBRUARY 9. 



xvii 



of various systems of breeding, to crosses between different 

 species or varieties, to the transmission of parental charac- 

 ters, to the origin of new varieties, the appearance of 

 "sports," and to other facts of a similar nature. Breeders 

 and horticulturists are, in fact, continually engaged in 

 experiments on a large scale, many of which, if recorded in 

 detail, would have a high scientific value. The importance 

 of such records is now generally admitted, and has been 

 especially exemplified by the use that Darwin made of them 

 in his writings, particularly in " Animals and Plants under 

 Domestication." Though publications connected with the 

 farm and garden frequently contain notices of striking 

 phenomena witnessed in the propagation of animals and 

 plants, such accounts are, unfortunately, for the most part, 

 imperfect. If the observations were more systematically 

 made, and the facts more precisely described so as to admit 

 of comparison, and if greater precautions were taken to 

 exclude the possibilities of error, the records obtained would 

 constitute a valuable body of trustworthy evidence. Those 

 who are professionally engaged in breeding and plant-raising 

 have, as a rule, little leisure for observing or recording their 

 results with more detail than is necessary for their own 

 purposes ; but it is suggested that this Committee might 

 facilitate additional work of a more strictly scientific 

 character, in various ways appropriate to particular cases, 

 especially by making arrangements for the maintenance of 

 full and continuous records, and for the preservation, 

 measurement, drawing and photographing of specimens in 

 such a way that their essential features shall be permanently 

 recorded. The Committee are assured that in suitable cases 

 this could be done without interference with the directly 

 practical side of the operations ; and they are convinced that, 

 by co-operation between breeders and horticulturists on the 

 one side, and naturalists on the other, numerous and valu- 

 able opportunities for observation could be utilised which 

 are now lost. To bring about such co-operation is one of 

 the primary objects of the Committee. The manner in 

 which it could be best effected must necessarilyfjbe the sub- 

 ject of special arrangement in each case. 



Horticultural Sub- Committee. — A Sub-Committee has 



