The man of observation is frequently derided for his statements by the man who goes by common sense, - yet it must be conceded that once in a while the common sense man is beaten out. Now there is the old notion that the original of the many colored polyanthus was obtained by planting the common yellow primrose of the English woods, upside down. Common sense laughs at this, - and we must confess that common sense has, in this, our sympathy. Yet, what are we to make of such a positive statement as this which we find from what appears to be a sensible correspondent of Gardening Illustrated:

"I will endeavor to satisfy the curiosity of 'X.' (p. 383), for I fail to see the 'foolishness of jumping to conclusions and of making deductions from' well-founded fact confirmed by the evidence of actual experience. To decide a controversy, three ordinary primroses were taken from a hedgerow near my residence, and planted in my garden in the year 1883, whilst in full bloom. They were placed in the ground with the flowers and foliage downwards, with the roots uppermost and lightly covered with earth. Two of them succumbed to this somewhat unnatural treatment; but the third put forth some, at first, tiny and weakly growth, which by autumn developed into a fair-sized, healthy plant. In the spring of 1884 it produced some flowers of a clear, bright, rosy-purple, and the shade of color was so good that I had the plant potted. In 1885 it bloomed profusely, and was really very pretty, and the flowers, as to size and color, remained true to the new departure; the same thing was repeated this year. After flowering it was put aside, and unfortunately, overlooked, and has perished for lack of water. I know two ladies, each of whom, from a similar trial, has obtained a like result as to change of color, and anyone can easily make an experiment for himself.

My observation has taught me that plants under abnormal circumstances frequently change both in form and color".