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THE NATURALIST. 



in order tlie better to apprecMte how tilings go wlien allied forms develope 

 themselves in the wild state. Here is an example of what I have observed 

 in the country and what I have put in practice in my cultivations : — 



In the woods of our granite hills where the allied forms of Hieracium 

 of the types murorum,, sylvaticum, and scibaudtim, abound, when a partial 

 clearing of them is commenced, the first year we see developed here and 

 there a small number of individuals of the special forms of the locality. The next 

 year if the ground remains cleared, the seeds which these individuals have 

 raised almost all sprout up, and we then find hundreds of individuals of each 

 respective form, all identical one with another, and presenting a characteristic 

 facies, easily seen at first glance. The third year these same individuals 

 become stronger, and there are many less new ones. In the succeeding years 

 if the ground is left to itself the Ruhi and other strong plants invade it, and 

 the Hiemcia eventually disappear almost entirely. The case I have above 

 described is an exceptional one and of rare occurrence. In the ordinary state 

 of thirgs when there is no clearing commenced which may be afterwards 

 interrupted, individuals of diverse forms are encountered here and there, 

 often in small number, frequently very poor, and rarely in perfectly analo- 

 gous states. It is thus very difficult to discriminate amongst them, by simply 

 passing through such tracts on a botanical expedition. 



ISTow observe what I have done at my own place. I take some seeds, 

 either from the same place where the plant which I wish to study grows, or 

 from my garden off plants which I have placed there from a v/ild state ; and 

 sow each form separately in pots. Afterwards I place the young plants in 

 the earth outside, for study, so that they may attain their full developement 

 in good condition, and thus spread abroad their ripened seeds around them. 

 In the autumn or the following spring I see great numbers of individuals of 

 each form appear, which are thus placed in a state perfectly analogous, and 

 present every aspect of plants truly wild, but well grown, and of which the 

 development is obtained in a manner altogether normal. It then becomes 

 easy to discriminate between these diverse forms. We can then easily per- 

 ceive which are distinct, and observe either in the detail, or the totality, of 

 the characters, what are their differences. 



These useful comparisons I have made very frequently, and am thus 

 enabled, to discriminate between a great number of neglected or ignored 

 specific forms. Are you acquainted with many botanists, many authors, 

 creators of species, or sitting in judgment on those which others have estab- 

 lished, who have done what I have indicated above, and who have practised 



