JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



did not satisfy this demand, and it was found impracticable to carry it out. 

 In consequence of this, another plan was followed. The aim was to 

 enable the reader to detect the kind of monstrosity he happens to have 

 observed in nature, and to place in his hands all the information he wants 

 in his study of such cases. The morphological point of view answered 

 these requirements, and explanatory remarks, illustrative details, and a 

 summary of the more important facts and conclusions accompany each 

 chapter. The larger number of the cases described rested on personal 

 observations of the author, and numerous figures, either from his sketches 

 or from his preparations, illustrate the text. 



The main parts of the book describe the deviations from the ordinary 

 type under four headings. These are : the arrangement of organs, their 

 form and number and their size and structure. These four parts are 

 divided into chapters according to the morphological principles. Union 

 and separation of organs, increased and decreased number, changes of 

 form, suppression of parts and hypertrophy, abortion and degeneration are 

 some of the more important subdivisions. 



But, although the description of anomalies forms the bulk of the book, 

 the influence of the philosophical mind of the author is seen everywhere. 

 Teratology serves as an aid in the study of morphology in general, as well as 

 in that of special groups of plants. It is often a more trustworthy guide 

 in the solution of such problems than even the study of the development 

 of organs. Teratology indicates the primitive structure of the flower in 

 many groups of the higher plants ; it implies the hypothesis of a prior 

 simplicity of organization. The author lays great stress upon its bearings 

 on systematic botany. Where broader considerations are concerned, 

 teratology affords aid in speculations concerning the affinities and genea- 

 logical descent of species, of genera and of larger groups. In many cases 

 ordinary morphology is insufficient, but the study of anomalies may give 

 the clue. The anomalies are not indeed, deviations from the common 

 laws, but simply expressions of these laws within less narrow limits. 

 They give indications of atavism as well as of progressive changes. 

 Relationships, otherwise unsuspected, may be disclosed by them. 

 Numerous are the contributions of this study to the philosophical 

 conception of the conformation of plants or of the affinities existing 

 between them. 



******** 

 I shall now endeavour to give a short survey of the trend of the book, 

 by making a selection from aruong its rich contents. We may begin with 

 the chapter on metamorphy, or the change of form. The best known 

 instance is that of the change of stamens into petals, which Masters calls 

 their petalody. 



Our first example is afforded by the double flowers of the crane's bill 

 (fig. 86). Here the stamens are changed into petals, and all the different 

 stages of this change can easily be found. The petal formation is brought 

 about by the broadening of the filament and of the connective, the anther 

 Lobes being separated and attached to the margin of the band. W T hile this 

 increases in breadth, the anther lobes diminish in size, lose their contents 

 and ultimately disappear. At the end the whole stamen is dilated into 

 a petal of normal structure and size. Some flowers are rich, others poor, 



