170 
NATURE NOTES. 
mislead novices, and make them think that petals, stamens, &c., 
were at one time actually leaves which have become meta- 
morphosed. The truth is that they are only potentially leaves, 
they have a common origin with leaves, and, up to a certain 
time, the same structure. In the strawberries of which mention 
has been made, the petals, stamens, and carpels (pips) are green 
and leafy, that is, they have to a certain extent retained their 
juvenile characteristics, and in the case where the receptacle gives 
off a little stalk with a flower at the end (see fig. 2), is it not 
just what we have a right to expect an “axis” to do ? A 
naturalist likes to get hold of such strawberries, because they 
reveal to him the plan of construction, as above explained, and 
affords confirmation of the correctness of his speculations. To 
find we are right in our surmises — to see additional illustrations 
of our theories, to have borne in upon us additional suggestions 
to be worked out in the future — are not these sources of delight 
as grateful to us as is the flavour of “British Queen" — especially 
when the one does not exclude the other ! 
Maxwell T. Masters. 
A GRUESOME BARGAIN. 
PROPOSAL has been sprung upon the public of the 
Richmond district by the Dysart Trustees — who claim 
to be lords of the manor of Petersham Common, the 
meadows below, and of most of the riverside between 
the banks and the park as far as Kingston — the far-reaching 
consequences of which are as difficult to realise as they would 
be disastrous to the sylvan beauties if carried out. The Trustees 
offer for sale to the Richmond Corporation a site near Kingston 
for an “ isolation hospital ” of about five acres of arable land, 
at the very respectable price of ;^i,ooo an acre, if — and happily 
owing to the public-spirited action of some members of the 
Corporation it is a very large “if” — that body will join with 
them in an application to Parliament for an Act to extinguish all 
common rights over an area of between eight and nine acres, 
known as Petersham Wood, which lies south of the road from the 
Star and Garter Hotel to Petersham Vale. They further offer 
to transfer their rights over some low-lying and water-logged 
meadows, if the Corporation will contribute the very considerable 
amount of ;^3,ooo towards the expenses of making a road across 
the Petersham meadows, past Ham House, and as far as One 
Tree, where the public road again inpinges on the river. The 
trustees also make it a condition that the Corporation should 
lend their approval to the proposal to close to the public numerous 
footpaths around and about Ham House, which give access to 
the river banks, Twickenham Ferry, Teddington Lock, and foot 
