In addition to the differences in shape due to pollenation and seed formation, there is a difference in shape arising from another cause intimately associated with the pollenation problem. The fruit bearing flowers of D. Kaki are of two kinds, pistillate and perfeet. Observations so far go to show that the perfect flowers rarely bring fruit to maturity but why this is so is not known. Under some conditions of climate, soil, and moisture they may do so. Up to this time only one fruit has been checked through from flower to maturity, a single specimen of variety Gailey, (Eagle Lake). A number of others have been followed both on this and on other varieties from flower to half maturity or thereabouts, when they dropped off. Both the specimen which reached maturity and those which did not, showed a variation toward a decidedly elongated form. There is little doubt but that wherever fruits from perfect flowers do reach maturity they are very different in form from those fruits which develop from pistillate flowers.

While the usual blooming period of D. Kaki, in North Florida is usually during the month of April and in early May, it sometimes happens that a few flowers appear on later branch growth in June or even July. This late bloom produces fruit quite different in shape from the fruit produced by the regular spring erop of flowers. The lateral diameter is usually greatly reduced and the longitudinal diameter is greatly increased, relatively. Late blooms on most kinds of fruits, whether oranges, pomeloes or apples, produce fruits that are off shape, and the fact as related here is only touched upon that it may not be confused with the pollenation factor in the case of the Japanese persimmon.

EFFECT ON QUALITY.

On the quality of the fruit, pollenation also has an effect. Generally speaking the fruit is richer and better flavored when seeds. are present. Some varieties like Hachiya do not ripen evenly when they are seedless. This particular variety when seedless often matures and softens about the apex while the remainder of the fruit is hard, astringent and inedible. Such fruits are worthless, because the apex spoils before the remainder of the fruit matures. Pollenated specimens on the other hand ripen evenly and the quality is very much improved.

QUESTIONS.

A number of interesting questions naturally arise, based on the statements which have been made concerning the effect of pollenation on the fruit of D. Kaki.

Does pollenation have any effect on the fruitfulness of D. Kaki even though seed is not developed? I am inclined to believe that it has, though conclusive proof is still lacking.

Why is it that the flesh of certain varieties when seed is de veloped, undergoes such marked changes while the flesh of other varieties does not, and what are these changes in reality? It is

highly probable that the darkening of the flesh in some varieties. is associated with tannin changes and that the coloration is due to the darkening of the tannin mass, or to the coloration of the tissues through its action. Bigelow, Gore and Howard, and Loyd who have given more attention to the tannin changes in persimmons than any other investigators in America, do not refer to these marked changes in flesh coloration in many varieties.

Is it possible that D. Kaki is not a single species? Some writers. have argued that it is not and have stated it as their belief that it is a horticultural conglomeration of a number of distinct forms. It may be that the distinct dark and light fleshed features are derived from two no less distinct lines of ancestors.

Is the dark fleshed feature a latent character in those varieties which when pollenated do not develop dark flesh? Until this season there appeared to be no way of even guessing at this for all those varieties previously known to produce staminate flowers either sporadically or constantly each blooming season also always have dark flesh when seeds are present. This year however the first persistently light fleshed staminate variety of D. Kaki has been definitely located. By using pollen from this variety on the flowers of pistillate light fleshed varieties and raising seedlings from the resulting seed, we may at least determine whether the dark fleshed character is present in one or both of the parents.

SUMMARY.

The fruits of D. Kaki of the same variety and on the same tree often vary greatly in size, shape, color of flesh, quality, taste and time or ripening.

The underlying cause of these variations is now known to be due largely to the pollenation factor.

All varieties of Japanese persimmons so far studied are light fleshed when seedless but certain varieties always show a dark area in the flesh when seeds are present and others are always light fleshed even when seeds are present. Both dark and light fleshed fruits may occur on the same tree.

The physiological causes which underlie the changes in color of the flesh are not understood, and offer an interesting field for investigation.

PRESIDENT HEDRICK: The next paper is by Professor Connors on "The Multiplication of Floral Parts in the Carnation."

MULTIPLICATION OF FLORAL PARTS IN THE CARNATION.

BY C. H. CONNORS, Experiment Station, New Brunswick, N. J.

Biologists have long recognized the fact that changes in environmental conditions and conditions of nourishment, cause variations in organisms. Animals transported from one country to another

of different climatic conditions, perhaps having a change in the purpose for which they are bread, become accustomed to the new conditions and thrive. Plants removed from one set of conditions to another, acquire new characters that permit them to survive in the new environment. These changes may produce a change in the nature itself of the organism. Take a wild plant from a field or a forest, cultivate it under glass, and it will gradually assume a new form. Propagate it for generations by division rather than by seed, and what is more natural than that the power of sexual reproduction should gradually be reduced, and that the organs formerly used solely for reproduction should in part be changed or metamorphosed in such a way as to present a greater attraction to the agencies which bring about the now more unusual method of reproduction.

It is a demonstrated fact that doubling in flowers has been caused by the response of the plant to extraneous conditions. These conditions may be advantageous or disadvantageous. Darwin' describes a double Gentiana Amarella, seemingly caused by growing on a hard, dry, bare chalky bank. Henslow" also mentions a record of the fact that stocks can be made to increase the number of petals by withholding water, giving the plants just enough to support life. Hence, plants grown in a dry climate are more apt to produce double-flowered species than the same plants grown in a moist climate like our own. This character once fixed can be retained by propagation by division and by intercrossing.

Species having varieties of two distinct types of bloom, single and double, are common. Of plants having three general types may be mentioned the geranium and the carnation. Each of these has varieties bearing single, half-double and double flowers. In the carnation these types are known as the signle, the commercial, and the double or "bullhead."

The carnation, Dianthus caryoplyllum, is, according to the taxonomists, a single flower consisting of five sepals, five petals, ten stamens, and a single-celled ovary bearing two styles and stigmas. The stamens are borne in whorls of five, the outer whorl being superimposed to the sepals, and the inner whorl to the petals. The outer whorl has longer filaments which bear anthers that mature the pollen earlier. The plants bearing this tpye of flower have slender stems, narrow leaves and long, pointed buds.

The double or "bull-head" flower is the other extreme, being a flower of a great many petals and petalloid organs. The plant bearing this type of flower is stocky, with stout stems, wide leaves and almost globular buds.

The most commonly known form, the commercial or half-double type is a true intermediate. It has more petals than the single and fewer than the double. The plant is intermediate, the stems being medium stocky, the leaves medium in width and the buds intermediate.

1Garden Chron. 1843.

2Ibid. 1886.

Here we have, then, a species of plant some members of which bear five petals and others nearly five hundred. How this has evolved is an interesting study.

In the season of 1912-13 there were growing in the greenhouses of the New Jersey State Agricultural Experiment Station several hundred carnation seedlings resulting from crosses made in 1909, 1910 and 1911 by the station florist, Mr. D. Manley Jobbins. Some of these were second generation seedlings, secured by selfpollinating the first seedlings. Among these seedlings there appeared a number of variations in the shape, size, and number of petals. Upon investigation these variations were found to be coincident with a number of other variations of less common knowledge, so that this paper, which was intended to be merely a detailed statement of the multiplication of petals has developed into a paper on the Teratology of the Carnation.

CALYCANTHEMY.

Henslow makes the assumption that the parts of the flower are developed from leaves in the progressive order-bracts, sepals, petals, stamens, ovary, pistil. Calycanthemy or petalody of the calyx is a progressive metamorphosis. This is found in Primula calycanthema and also in Mimulus. Served examples have appeared under our observation as occurring in the carnation. One bloom shows that two sepals are developing petaloid characters and the sepals are being replaced, the one by a growth from under an enlarged bract, and the other by the bract itself. The latter is a more primative form of progressive metamorphosis. Another bloom shows that one of the sepals is assuming a petaloid form and is being replaced by a growth from under one of the bracts, which remained normal.

PHYLLODY.

Phyllody or the assumption of a leaf-like character by the floral organs is not uncommon. It is frequently found in roses, especially "American Beauty," and we have observed a flower of Weigela, Diervilla japonico, in which the sexual organs had been changed to leaves and the petals were partly transformed. In carnations, the midrib of the petals is sometimes transformed. It has been observed, also, in the case of the ovules. This was mentioned by Berkley, and also by Penzig and Masters."

Of several examples coming to our attention, one of the best shows that a single ovule has developed a leaf-like character and later has been metamorphosed into an ovary bearing a single pistil. Henslow states that the ovule is simply an appendage to the fibrovascular cord at the margin of the placenta and under teratological conditions the ovule has developed to this extent. In another specimen the development has gone still farther. The primary ovary has 1 Henslow, Rev. George "The Origin of Floral Structures."

developed three pistils, which have become mere appendages to the wall of the ovary and have no internal connection, while the ovules on the primary placenta are entirely wanting, being replaced by seven secondary ovules, each bearing one to two pistils and having ovules.

Another form of progressive metamorphosis is one of the best. Here a stamen is developing into a pistil, the ovary being partly formed with the stigma appended to it.

PROLIFICATION.

Prolification has been a not uncommon phenomenon in flowers. As early as 1687, there is reported a proliferous carnation.* Prolification, as found in the carnation, may be of three kinds: medium, axillary and extra-floral.

Of medium prolification much has been written. All writers on teratology refer to examples of prolification in the order Dianthus. Among the seedlings to which previous mention has been made, were found two examples, both of which are second generation seedlings.

In median prolification, the axis is prolonged and is terminated by a floral bud. The floral bud may be sessile, as in the example shown, in which case the sepals are absent, the calyx function being performed by the carpels of the primary flower. In this case, the primary flower had 263 petals and petaloid organs and the secondary flower, 44, bearing also an ovary. The plant continued to bear proliferous flowers.

An example of axillary prolification shows that development has proceeded so far that there were formed three adventitious ovaries. each, as well as the primary ovary, bearing pistils and having the placenta, present bearing ovules.

If, as stated by Henslow, one of the cords of the fibro-vascular bundles is diverted, an unusual form is developed. This is an example of extra-floral prolification, in which a flower bud has developed from under one of the bracts.

PETALODY OF THE PISTILS.

Several plants were formed which bore a peculiar form of flower. The calyx was shorter than normal, wrinkled, and usually bulging near the top. This condition of the calyx is always accompanied by a change in the pistil, the stigmas becoming aborted and assuming a petaloid character. Whether or not they are still capable of carrying on the function of stigmas is not known, although several unsuccessful attempts to pollenate them were made.

1Berkley-Garden Chron. 1871.

3Penzig, Dr. O., "Pflanzen-Teratologie." 3Masters, M. T.. "Vegetable Teratology."

4Schlemmer-Flores praeter morem proliferic et fungus exilis discifer. Misc. Ac. Nat. Cut. Dec. II Anni 1687.