38 
EIGHTH REPORT. 
A STUDY OF RUDBECKIA HIRTA L. 
W. J. BEAL. 
In the summer of 1903, 1904 and 1905, I was fortunate in finding 
large numbers of plants of this species growing on rather hard land 
among bushes of cut-over' land. 
These hirsute plants are usually considered weeds, as they often grow 
in meadows and flower in June about the time of timothy. They vary 
much in height, even when growing near each other, 25-100 cm. liigli. 
The disk is half-oval, dark purple, hence its name, Black-eyed Susan- 
the orange rays usually drooping. 
.The rays range in number from 8-34; in length from 1.5-7 cm.: in 
width, from 3-11 mm. 
During these three summers I selected some thirty-five plants, each of 
which showed some peculiarity that interested me. Among these were 
dwarf or low plants; some with few, others with many rays; some with 
short rays, others with long rays; some with narrow rays, others with 
wide ones; one in which the rays extended horizontally; some with 
rays brown or dark red near the base; some in which the thirty-four 
rays were all tubular or “quilled” for 12-30 mm. of their length. ’ Rays 
were found that were broad at the apex, or pointed, the apex split and 
curled under. There were twisted rays and flat ones. In rare cases six 
or moie very narrow rays came out just above the wide ones and curv¬ 
ing upward over the disk. 
Among the most remarkable of the selections was a single plant 
found last summer (1905), where there were many thousands to select 
from. This plant could not appropriately be called “black-eyed Susan” 
but green-eyed Susan” would be better, as the head was- yellowish- 
green instead of dark purple as were all others seen. I have" no speci¬ 
men here of the “green-eyed Susan,” but I saved seeds for planting. 
Among my seedlings was a dwarf not over three inches high. All 
seedlings not desirable I pull up and destroy. For lack of room I have 
gradually discarded a portion of the selections that had been made. Late 
m the fall of 190o the best of the selections were scattered, one in a 
place in different portions of the two acres comprising the garden. In 
many cases seedlings have been grown, in each case near the parent- 
plant which produced the seeds. 
The plants of all species vary, but some are more plastic than others. 
venture the statement that any botanist who shall patiently study 
all stages of several hundreds of plants of one species will be surprised 
at their differences. Some sedges, red clover, and Indian corn, are 
especially variable. Every farmer knows how difficult it is to maintain 
constant, or nearly so, any race of plants when propagated by seeds. 
The thirty-five plants selected were carefully moved to a spot in the 
