Jan. 1905] 
Elementary Mycology 
35 
if it could be given of “species” in the organic kingdom. Exact 
or essential similarity in all the characters manifest in the embry¬ 
onic development through to maturity and ultimate death, is the 
leading idea contained in the word species. The individuals are 
almost invariably so closely similar that a more or less detailed 
description of any one would apply to all. Moreover, the like¬ 
ness is so marked that the individuals may be unhesitatingly 
referred to a common and not very remote parentage. Again, 
under conditions which are understood — at least recognized — 
an individual, or set of individuals, may depart to a minor degree 
from the type as fixed in mind from an examination of many 
specimens of a kind or species. We would expect in this case 
that the descendants would show the same characters; to desig¬ 
nate such a group the word sub-species is to be used. It should 
be said that at least occasional individuals would be found that 
connect by perceptible or indeed imperceptible gradations the sub¬ 
species with the type or normal species. Perhaps these are the 
incipient stages of a new species. Moreover, there are “sports” 
which are to be distinguished from real sub-species. In such 
case we would find a single individual with some remarkable 
variant structure — say a violet without a spur, a radiate-sym¬ 
metrical flower when the normal form is irregular in shape, a 
Mushroom with lop-sided cap, a Collybia radicata without a 
“root,” etc.; and in no instance of the “sport” do we expect the 
peculiar form to be repeated in the descendants. It may be added, 
however, that it is feasable “artificially” to multiply the sport and 
so produce many “individuals.” This is done often by horticul¬ 
turists and florists to obtain their so-called “new varieties,” by 
excising portions of the “sport” and placing these “cuttings” in 
favorable conditions for continued growth. In this manner many 
of our ornamental plants and common kinds of cultivated fruit 
trees “originated”; they are multiplied on an enormous scale lo; 
commercial purpose by “grafting” and “budding.” Any form of 
“vegetative” reproduction (as opposed to “seed-reproduction”) 
of the “sport” would likewise continue its existence. In one 
sense therefore we may, for example, regard the countless mil¬ 
lions of Ben Davis apple trees, the Alberta Peach, the Kiefer Pear, 
etc., as pieces of the one original plant or “sport” from which the 
first cutting was made. One other group-term is occasionally 
used by botanists which must here be explained, namely, “forma” 
or anglicised to “form.” While this is the common English word 1 
it must be remembered that it has here a technical significance. 
It would be used when the individuals exhibit quite a minor varia¬ 
tion ; it would scarcely be sufficient to constitute a sub-species.- 
Our knowledge of the Vegetable Kingdom is yet too limited to 
employ this characterization with much assurance or indeed 
advantage. And as a matter of fact, for the same reason the 
other groups, though more patent, are by no means conceived of 
