Grafted Plants.

Abstract

REFERRING to Prof. Henslow's paper on “A Theory of Heredity based on Forces” (November 26, p. 93), the behaviour of grafted plants seems to require, for its explanation, the possession by both stock and graft of something analogous to a distinct individuality, call it what we may. It is difficult enough to understand, especially in the case of nearly-related forms, why the stock generally has no, or so little, influence on the graft; but, assuming the absence of individuality, the difficulty is largely increased. The graft takes its nourishment through the stock, and yet retains its characteristics unimpaired. I argue from this that not only does the graft possess an individuality of its own, but that this is so marked that it can take its nourishment direct from the stock, while at the same time straining out, as it were, whatever it is that constitutes the individuality of the stock. The phenomena presented by parasitic plants seem to bear out this view.