142 
TIIE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET 
feet in the Valley of Mexico, and there producing both 
single and double flowers. 
The figure of the flower now presented was drawn 
from the specimen presented by Mr. Green on the 9th 
of January last. On referring to “ Maund’s Botanist,” 
vol ii., p. SS, we find that the flower selected for figur¬ 
ing in the year 1S3S was of precisely the same character, 
as regards the doubling, as that selected by Mr. Slocombe 
for the present figure. But there is a difference. 
Maund's figure is a poor tame thing as compared with 
the one now before us, and we may suppose that a poor 
bloom was secured for the purpose, the result being 
more of a burlesque than a demonstration of its beauty. 
The story told by Mr. Hemsley, is derived from Maund's 
notice, wherein occurs also the following: 
“ The plant was again imported, both by roots and 
cuttings, in 1834, by'William Bates, Esq., who presented 
it to Charles Tayleure, Esq., of Toxeth Park, near 
Liverpool, by whom it was liberally distributed to the 
Liverpool Botanic Garden, and to Mr. Skirving, of 
Walton Nursery and Liverpool. From the latter ad¬ 
mirable and liberally conducted establishment, a plant 
two feet high was obtained by George Ellins, Esq., of 
Rigby Hall, Worcestershire, and planted in the border 
of his conservatory in the spring of 1S37. In Novem¬ 
ber of the same year it had attained the height of twelve 
feet, and produced a handsome corymb of flowers at 
the summit of the stem. . . . This handsome plant, 
twelve feet high, wholly devoid of side shoots, but with 
its magnificent foliage spreading five feet from side to 
side, and displaying a single crown of flowers, was 
highly attractive. The very handsome stylo of growth 
of this individual plant does not, however, appear to bo 
invariable, nor perhaps general, in the Dahlia excolsa; 
for we have since seen other younger plants with many 
branches, but still preserving a main or leading 
shoot, in a manner wholly distinct from the garden 
species. 
The tree Dahlia must, for all practical purposes, compre¬ 
hend both D. imperial in and D. excelsa. They are grand 
plants, easily grown, but requiring good accommodation 
for flowering under glass during the winter. For the 
beauty of then- leafage they may be described as sub¬ 
tropical plants of the highest order of merit, but the 
chief charm for the cultivator is to see their flowers in 
the late autumn, and during the winter, when, of 
necessity, they require comfortable quarters to complete 
then - growth and produce their flowers.” 
VARIATIONS IN ROSES. 
It is almost generally admitted by those who have ob¬ 
served and studied the laws which govern the animal 
and vegetable kingdom, that variableness is the universal 
rule. 
I say almost, because a very distinguished man whom 
I esteem has recently written that reproduction is the 
rule and variableness the exception. 
However, he has not quoted a single example to sup¬ 
port his statement, nor demonstrated why there are not 
two grains of sand of the same weight and size, why there 
are never two leaves from the same tree exactly alike, 
nor two seeds from the same pod which will produce 
identical plants, and why one never meets even twins 
exactly alike. 
Time, reflection, aided by close observation, will decide, 
this question definitely, it is hoped, in the interests of 
progress and science. 
I have been myself sometimes in error. I have attrib-' 
uted variations in seeds to the intervention of insects, 
and believed that in pilfering in the flowers they trans¬ 
port the pollen from one variety to another, and thus 
produce crossing. 
My friend, Carriere, has shown me my mistake, for 
which I am grateful to him. But free-thinker in all 
things, and believing only that which is demonstrated 
by undeniable facts, I studied Rose-bushes particularly, 
and soon observed that almost always natural fertiliza¬ 
tion took place before the blooming of the flower, con¬ 
sequently the intervention of insects was without effect. 
That which has induced me to call the attention of the 
readers of the Journal des Roses to the subject, is that 
in spite of its evidence the law of variation has not been 
sufficiently noticed even in horticulture, and that among 
vegetables there is offered a vast field for study, for be¬ 
side the enjoyments resulting from the culture of 
flowers, we will have the pleasure of expecting and 
anxiously awaiting the results from our seed-beds. In 
the Rose family there is much pleasure given us, without 
our intervention, by the great number of varieties 
which will be produced by sowing the seed. Thus, some 
Rose growers, and among the most zealous I would men¬ 
tion Henry Bennett, have thought best to practice arti¬ 
ficial fertilization, as yet in its infancy, and often 
exercised in the wrong way, but which by judicious 
selections will certainly produce wonders. 
A trace of variableness which is very often manifested, 
but which often passes unnoticed is dimorphism, com¬ 
monly called accident. 
Why accident? Because we ignore the cause, the 
law which produces them. Some say it is an unhealthy 
condition, others that it is produced by forcing. I suspect 
them all to be in error, and say to them, Seek and you 
will find. 
Among Roses there have recently been some very re¬ 
markable productions. Such are the hybrids, Mabel 
Morrison, White Baroness, Merville de Lyon. These 
three have white flowers and spring from Baroness de 
Rothschild which has red flowers. The American Ban¬ 
ner having striped flowers, comes from Bon Silene, and 
differs much from this type by its carriage and foliage. 
Peter Henderson, of New York, writes me that he has 
found a dimorphism of the Perle des Jardins, which 
has the color of Madame Talcott, and it seems to me 
probable that among Roses similar variations may yet be 
produced. 
I would urge, therefore, and it is to this end that I 
write these lines, all Rose growers, and more particularly 
amateurs, to watch carefully and endeavor to preserve 
by grafting or slipping the least variation they may ob¬ 
serve .—Jean Sisley, in “ Journal des Roses.” 
