A seedling raised by Mr. Salter has produced by bud-variation six distinct sorts, five different in colour and one in foliage, all of which are now fixed. (11/35. 'The Chrysanthemum: its History and Culture' by J. Salter 1865 page 41 etc.) A variety called cedo nulli bears small yellow flowers, but habitually produces branches with white flowers; and a specimen was exhibited, which Prof. T. Dyer saw, before the Horticultural Society. The varieties which were first introduced from China were so excessively variable, "that it was extremely difficult to tell which was the original colour of the variety, and which was the sport." The same plant would produce one year only buff-coloured, and next year only rose- coloured flowers; and then would change again, or produce at the same time flowers of both colours. These fluctuating varieties are now all lost, and, when a branch sports into a new variety, it can generally be propagated and kept true; but, as Mr. Salter remarks, "every sport should be thoroughly tested in different soils before it can be really considered as fixed, as many have been known to run back when planted in rich compost; but when sufficient care and time are expended in proving, there will exist little danger of subsequent disappointment." Mr. Salter informs me that with all the varieties the commonest kind of bud-variation is the production of yellow flowers, and, as this is the primordial colour, these cases may be attributed to reversion. Mr. Salter has given me a list of seven differently coloured chrysanthemums, which have all produced branches with yellow flowers; but three of them have also sported into other colours. With any change of colour in the flower, the foliage generally changes in a corresponding manner in lightness or darkness.
Another Compositous plant, namely, Centauria cyanus, when cultivated in a garden, not unfrequently produces on the same root flowers of four different colours, viz., blue, white, dark-purple, and parti-coloured. (11/36. Bree in Loudon's 'Gardener's Mag.' volume 8 1832 page 93.) The flowers of Anthemis also vary on the same plant. (11/37. Bronn 'Geschichte der Natur' b. 2 s. 123.)
ROSES.
Many varieties of the Rose are known or are believed to have originated by bud-variation. (11/38. T. Rivers 'Rose Amateur's Guide' 1837 page 4.) The common double moss-rose was imported into England from Italy about the year 1735. (11/39. Mr. Shailer quoted in 'Gardener's Chronicle' 1848 page 759.) Its origin is unknown, but from analogy it probably arose from the Provence rose (R. centifolia) by bud-variation; for the branches of the common moss- rose have several times been known to produce Provence roses, wholly or partially destitute of moss: I have seen one such instance, and several others have been recorded. (11/40. 'Transact. Hort. Soc.' volume 4 1822 page 137; 'Gardener's Chronicle' 1842 page 422.) Mr. Rivers also informs me that he raised two or three roses of the Provence class from seed of the old single moss-rose (11/41. See also Loudon's 'Arboretum' volume 2 page 780.); and this latter kind was produced in 1807 by bud-variation from the common moss-rose. The white moss-rose was also produced in 1788 by an offset from the common red moss-rose: it was at first pale blush-coloured, but became white by continued budding. On cutting down the shoots which had produced this white moss-rose, two weak shoots were thrown up, and buds from these yielded the beautiful striped moss-rose. The common moss-rose has yielded by bud-variation, besides the old single red moss-rose, the old scarlet semi-double moss-rose, and the sage-leaf moss-rose, which "has a delicate shell-like form, and is of a beautiful blush colour; it is now (1852) nearly extinct." (11/42. All these statements on the origin of the several varieties of the moss-rose are given on the authority of Mr. Shailer, who, together with his father, was concerned in their original propagation. See 'Gard. Chronicle' 1852 page 759.) A white moss-rose has been seen to bear a flower half white and half pink.