444 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 14, 1896. 
breeder or raiser ; but little or no at¬ 
tempt was made to explain the genesis 
of the novelties under review. Pro¬ 
fessor Bailey sets himself the task of ex¬ 
plaining or dealing with the philosophy of 
organic evolution, or, in other words, the 
philosophy underlying plant variation. 
Fortuitous or chance variations are ex¬ 
plained as due to that elasticity and plasti¬ 
city which are part of the essential consti¬ 
tution of all organic beings. From amongst 
the great numbers of plants exhibiting 
minor differences, nature selects those 
which are best fitted to survive the struggle 
for existence under any given condition. 
The author does not believe that nature 
has any ultimate ideal of perfection or pre¬ 
determined completion ofform, except so far 
as it will be best suited to the environrrent 
and conditions under which it may grow. 
He next discusses the question of “ Sex as 
a Factor in the Variation of Plants,” and 
argues that there must be some valid reason 
for this costly mechanism, seeing that, 
potentially, most plants can reproduce 
themselves by means of buds, a less costly 
or less exhausting method. If continual 
bud-propagation would have answered the 
purpose, the method could easily be largely 
extended by nature. . The only reason for 
the existence of sex seems to be the “ re¬ 
juvenation and modification ” of the result¬ 
ing progeny. 
Weismann and those who accept his 
speculative propositions do not believe that 
variations amongst plants become here- 
tary in the offspring ; but Professor Bailey 
cannot help believing what every intelligent 
hybridist, gardener, and raiser of plants 
continually see to be the case in their every¬ 
day experiences. Those who cross-breed 
and raise new Peas make sowings of seeds 
which to all appearance are identical, and 
the early stages of the seedlings may seem 
so likewise; but, sooner or later, certain 
individuals start away into more vigorous 
growth than the rest. If left to their own 
resources these individuals would soon 
crowd the others and render them even less 
vigorous than they were at the commence¬ 
ment. Here then we see variation taking 
place, and this may even have originated 
in the seed as a result of the variation 
arising from the crossing of the parents. 
That this variation is inherited to a greater 
or a lesser extent is the experience of those 
who select them for further trial. The 
author describes Thomas Andrew Knight 
as “ the chief of horticultural philoso¬ 
phers,” and the Transactions of the Horticultural 
Society of London bear out this statement in 
their pages. That great English authority 
stated that an excess of food was one of the 
chief causes of variation in plants, and 
Darwin unreservedly adopted the same view. 
The variations ascribed to the effect of 
climate are very numerous and often well 
marked. Latitude and altitude have a 
profound effect upon fruits, flowers, leaves, 
stems, and other parts of plants. When 
the latter are taken from one part of the 
world to another and placed under different 
climatic conditions, variation commences 
and proceeds till the new forms are no 
longer to be identified with the originals. 
In 1817 more than sixty per cent, of the 
Apples recommended for cultivation in the 
United States were of American origin ; 
this is the case with more than ninety per 
cent, now grown there. We have previously 
referred to this fact, as it has happened both 
there and in the British Colonies. Cases 
such as these might be multiplied in¬ 
definitely, but space forbids the enumeration 
of those given by Professor Bailey in his 
book of some 293 pages, including a good 
index, without which no book of reference 
can be of great value at the present day. 
Paper and printing are admirable. 
The second lecture discusses many inter¬ 
esting subjects, including the limits of 
crossing, the gradual amelioration of the 
type, change of seed, production of new 
varieties, uncertainty of pollination, etc. 
The third lecture should be even more 
interesting to intending students, seeing 
that it discusses the methods to be pursued 
in plant-breeding. This it does in a very 
comprehensive manner, methodically and 
systematically, under a set of fifteen rules 
meant for the guidance of the operator. 
The Professor makes it clearly evident 
that nature, not man, is chiefly con¬ 
cerned in the production of variation in any 
given species, but that man, by intelligent 
methods of crossing and ' selection, can 
increase and accumulate these variations 
along given lines of improvement. This 
he can do after first obtaining the initial 
variation desired. The number of useful 
facts contained in the book is very great, 
and constitutes interesting study which we 
can recommend to our readers. Messrs. 
Macmillan and Company, New York and 
London, are the publishers of the book, 
which is priced at 4 s. 2 d. 
-- 
The Editor regrets want of space for the numerous 
contributions sent him this week and last; but will 
not overlook them. 
" Potatos ” is the tide of a book just published by 
Mr. Arthur W. Sutton. It is a reprint of his Potato 
led ure at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
last autumn, and is so excellently got up that we shall 
say more of it anon. 
Garden boy excitedly : “ I’ve caught the snail at 
last in that pot of young Lettuces.” Gardener: 
“ Where was it ? ” G. B. : “ Coming over the side of 
the pot.’’ G. : “ I knew you must have met it; you 
couldn't have overtaken it.” 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. —Under 
the auspices of the Devun and Exeter Gardeners’ 
Association a public meeting was held in the Guild¬ 
hall, Exeter, on the 4th inst., with a view of forming 
an auxiliary branch of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution. The meeting was a very 
influential, and, needless to say, a very successful one. 
We shall give a full account of the proceedings next 
week. 
Valuable Orchids at the Sale Rooms.—A magnifi¬ 
cent variety of Cattleya Trianaei made its appear¬ 
ance at Messrs. Protheroe and Morris’ Sale Rooms, 
Cheapside, on the 28th ult. It resembled C. T. 
backhouseana, but had darker petals with a central 
blotch running down them almost to the base. 
Though a small piece of four to five pseudo-bulbs, it 
was finally knocked down to H. T. Pitt, Esq., 
Rosslyn, Stamford Hill, for thirty-five guineas. At 
the same place, on the 6th inst., a fine piece of Den- 
drobium nobile nobilius passed into the hands of 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for fifteen 
guineas. Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham, 
secured a fine variety of Dendrobium Wardianum 
for four guineas. The sale on this occasion 
consisted of 1,600 lots of a very diversified character, 
many of them being in bloom. 
National Carnation and Picotee Society (Southern 
Section).—In presenting their nineteenth annual 
report for the year 1895, the committee announce a 
continuous and satisfactory increase of members. 
The exhibition held at the Crystal Palace on July 
24th last, was a brilliant success. On that occasion 
the prize list was largely increased, in the per¬ 
formance of which the society was greatly assisted 
by the Crystal Palace Company's munificent dona¬ 
tion of £50, also by Messrs. Ernst Benary's gift of a 
silver medal, the silver cup sent by the ‘‘Turner 
Memorial trustees,” and the handsome contribution 
of £20 which came from the president. The exhibi¬ 
tion for 1896 is announced to be held at the Crystal 
Palace on Wednesday, July 22nd. A list of the 
winning varieties and successful exhibitors is in¬ 
cluded in the report. The large balance in hand, 
amounting to £195 19s. ijd., is sufficient proof of the 
flourishing condition of the society from a financial 
point of view. The executive thus feel fully jusiified 
in making still further additions to the prize list for 
1896. 
Potatos have eyes yet see not ; corn has ears yet 
hears not ; but what of the man who possesses both 
these incapabilities ? — Snaggs' book of philosophy. 
Ore Gardeners’ Society. — Monthly meetings and 
exhibitions are held by this society in the Village 
School. Prizes are offered for fruits, flowers, and 
vegetables, in classes set apart for gardeners, 
cottagers, and amateurs respectively. There was a 
large attendance at the last meeting ; all the classes 
were well represented, and the prizes well earned. 
Errata.—On p. 430, in the nineteenth line from the 
bottom of the middle column, for “ The Paxton 
Potato ” read “ The Saxon Potato.” Likewise in the 
sixteenth line from the bottom, for “ Mr. Tyohe ” 
read “ Mr. Fyshe.,' Our P.D. in this instance is 
not to blame, for he certainly followed copy. Was 
the exhibition card badly written ? 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —The members of 
the Ealing Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society, 
with their usual enterprising zeal, have organised a 
smoking concert, to take place on Wednesday next 
(March 18th), in the Lyric Hall, Ealing. John Nye, 
Esq., is to preside on this occasion, and the proceeds 
are to be given in aid of the Royal Gardeners’ 
Ophan Fund. The admission is only a shilling. 
“ Gardener (head working) wanted for Mount 
Jerome; must be able to cultivate a Potato, and 
distinguish a Solanum lycopersicum esculentum 
from a Turnip; he must also have a thorough 
appreciation of the difference between cleanliness 
and dirt, order and irregularity, and undertake 
always to be the last to come to work and the first 
to depart; the fewer testimonials he can produce as 
to his religious views, his strict adherence to total 
abstinence, and his profound knowledge of agricul¬ 
ture, horticulture, arboriculture, floriculture, and 
every other culture, the better; he will not be 
allowed more than 1 cwt. of garden produce per 
diem for his own personal use. Apply to Major 
Gamble.”— Irish Times-. 
The Midland Carnation and Picotee Society.—The 
fifth annual report of this society is just published, 
and all lovers of the popular flower will be rejoiced 
to know, is of a most encouraging character. Steady 
progress has been made by the society, and the list 
of members and supporters grows larger each year. 
The late annual exhibition, held at ihe Edgbaston 
Botanical Gardens, on July 31st and August 1st last, 
was the largest and best exhibition yet held under 
the auspices of the society, the competition between 
the northern growers being especially keen. As the 
show was of two days' duration instead of one, as 
formerly, the takings at the gates were much larger 
than those of previous years. A substantial balance 
of ^40 2S. 4d. on the accounts for the year is left in 
the treasurer's hands. The best thanks of all mem¬ 
bers of the society are due to the indefatigable 
exertions of the two Honorary Secretaries, Messrs. 
Herbert Smith and E. F. A. Wood, also to the 
donors of special prizes, medals, etc., which aided 
materially in adding to the success of the annual 
exhibition. 
National Auricula and Primula Society.—The nine¬ 
teenth annual report for the year 1895 of the com¬ 
mittee of the Southern Section of this society, is of 
an exceedingly satisfactory character. Many im¬ 
provements in both Primulas and Auriculas have 
been made of recent years, and the part played by 
the society in this laudable work has been very 
marked. The nineteenth exhibition was held at the 
Drill Hall, Westminster, on Tuesday, April 23rd, 
1895, and despite the severity of the preceding 
winter proved a signal success*. In consequence of 
the lateness of the season such well-known and 
enthusiastic northern growers as Mr. Simonite, of 
Sheffield, and Mr. Meakin, of Derby, were prevented 
from exhibiting. A list of those varieties that had 
figured most prominently upon the show-table during 
the past season, together with the names of the 
winning exhibitors in the different classes are also 
embodied in the report, and should prove very useful 
to lovers of the showy flowers, the development of 
which the society is specially formed to carry on. 
During the year twelve new members have been 
added to the list, and four have been lost, thus 
making a net gain of eight in this direction. 
Financially also the society is fairly prosperous, 
although the reserve fund has been drawn upon to 
supply a deficit of £8 10s. iod. in the income for 
1895, thus leaving a balance in hand of ^11 18s. 6£d. 
