The laws of nature that govern the changes of color in vegetation are little understood, but are of great interest to investigators, and anything tending to advance the study of them should be preserved. We have reduced two little cuts from the Gardener's Chronicle, which also says: "We give an illustration of the chrysanthemum Source d'Or, sent us by Mr. Maries, of Lytham. One-half of the flower -head consisted of yellow, flat strap-shaped florets; the other of dark golden bronze florets, revolute at the edges. Such cases are always interesting, and are susceptible of various interpretations. That which seems most plausible in this case is, that the appearance is due to the unmixing or separation of previously blended components. In the case of the chrysanthemum, which has been crossed and re-crossed, and crossed again, for an untold number of years, it is evident that the breed must be very mixed indeed, and there can be little wonder if a return to first principles' occasionally occurs. This theory is not susceptible of actual proof in the chrysanthemum. We are glad, then, to call in support the witness of Veitch's calanthe. The history of this is known beyond dispute ; it is a hybrid between C. rosea and C, vestita.

In the flower in question, the two heretofore combined elements are nearly separated. Assuming the explanation now given to be a correct one, there are still many problems left unsolved. What has induced the separation at a particular time ? Why does the change occur on one or two particular shoots and those only? Why does the same change occur in the same variety at the same time in widely different localities ?

A Chrysanthemum Sport.

Ah, why ? It may seem disheartening, if not futile, to some people to seek the explanation of such things, but whether we fail in our main object or not, the search is always full of interest to those who keep, or try to 'keep an open mind,' and something of interest and value is sure to crop up to reward the rational curiosity of the searcher after truth".

The theory of our contemporary on this particular phase of plant variegation is of considerable interest, as the careful investigator will at once seek to test it by application to cases which have come under his own observation. The question will at once arise as to whether the same theory will explain the variegation of foliage in natural "sports." Why is not this simply a phase of the usually applied theory of reversion with which all well informed horticulturists are familiar ?

Calanthe Sport.