Chapter X (3)

In a curious and apparently trustworthy treatise, published at
Amsterdam[810] in 1768, it is stated that nearly 2000 sorts were then
known; but in 1864 Mr. Paul found only 700 in the largest garden at
Haarlem. In this treatise it is said that not an instance is known of
any one variety reproducing itself truly by seed: the white kinds,
however, now[811] almost always yield white hyacinths, and the yellow
kinds come nearly true. The hyacinth is remarkable from having given
rise to varieties with bright blue, pink, and distinctly yellow
flowers. These three primary colours do not occur in the varieties of
any other species; nor do they often all occur even in the distinct
species of the same genus. Although the several kinds of hyacinths
differ but slightly from each other except in colour, yet each kind has
its own individual character, which can be recognised by a highly
educated eye; thus the writer of the Amsterdam treatise asserts (p. 43)
that some experienced florists, such as the famous G. Voorholm, seldom
failed in a collection of above twelve hundred sorts to recognise each
variety by the bulb alone! This same writer mentions some few singular
variations: for instance, the hyacinth commonly produces six leaves,
but there is one kind (p. 35) which scarcely ever has more than three
leaves; another never more than five; whilst others regularly produce
either seven or eight leaves. A variety, called la Coriphee, invariably
produces (p. 116) two flower-stems, united together and covered by one
skin. The flower-stem in another kind (p. 128) comes out of the ground
in a coloured sheath, before the appearance of the leaves, and is
consequently liable to suffer from frost. Another variety always pushes
a second flower-stem after the first has begun to develop itself.
Lastly, white hyacinths with red, purple, or violet centres (p. 129)
are the most liable to rot. Thus, the hyacinth, like so many previous
plants, when long cultivated and closely watched, is found to offer
many singular variations.

In the two last chapters I have given in some detail the range of variation, and the history, as far as known, of a considerable number of plants, which have been cultivated for various purposes. But some of the most variable plants, such as Kidney-beans, Capsicum, Millets, Sorghum, &c., have been passed over; for botanists are not agreed which kinds ought to rank as species and which as varieties; and the wild parent-species are unknown.[812] Many plants long cultivated in tropical {372} countries, such as the Banana, have produced numerous varieties; but as these have never been described with even moderate care, they also are here passed over. Nevertheless a sufficient, and perhaps more than sufficient, number of cases have been given, so that the reader may be enabled to judge for himself on the nature and extent of the variation which cultivated plants have undergone.

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