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 necessarily be the sub¬ 
ject of special arrangement in each case. 
Horticultural Sub-Committee .—A Sub-Committee has 
