Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-07-30
Sports Among Plants.

WHAT are termed "sports'' among
plants are but unusual variations from the
natural or normal type. No two plants
seeds or other things in this world are ex-
actly alike. We say: "Alike as two
peas" still, no two peas in the same pod
will be alike in every respect; they will
vary in size, form, color, or in some pc
culiar markings, but at the same time they
will have general resemblance sufficient
to identify the species or variety. But il
in a pod of white peas a red one should
be found it would be called a sport, be-
cause such wide variation from the nor
NAL type is unusual. Generally speaking
the term "sport' is applied only to pecul
lar variations of single bud, branch OF
portion of plant, and not to varieties pro.
duced from seed. For instance, if small
branch of tree suddenly produces differ.
ent shaped or colored leaves from the nat
ural form or color, it would be termed q
sport. The causes of these variations are
generally unknown, but they are frequent.
ly secured by removal from the parent
stock and through propagation by cutting
as otherwise their individual Characters
tics become fixed and as permanent as
ordinary varieties. 1t is generally sup
are caused by insects or disease, which in
some manner has diverted the forces OF
the plant from their natural channels, OF
otherwise interfered with their functions
This theory is strengthened by the fact
that they appear more frequently among
cultivated than wild plants still, they are
found occasionally among the latter.
A number of our golden and silver
IRaVQd ornamental rC nf
sporting branch, which were secured by
the method mentioned above. Many of
the beautiful variegated leaved plants, so
much priced for house culture, as well as
for bedding out in summer, came from
the same source, and our gardeners are
constantly on the alert for such freaks of
nature. The farmer might often find
sports among his grain and vegetables if
he were on the lookout for them, and in
some instances the knowledge that such
variations are likely to occur may clear
up the mysterious appearance OF strange
varieties.
The frequency of sports among potatoes
has led some farmers to believe that a
mixture of two sorts has actually occurred
from being planted in close proximity !;
hence the oftrepeated assertion that
potatoes will mix in the hill.' Nothing
OF the kind, however, ever takes place,
and red potato is no more likely to
change to white one when growing in the
same hill than short-hOrn COW would
change to an Attorney in consequence of
their sleeping in stable together. Curious
sports do frequently occur among potatoes,
as In the case of the well-known white
peachblow, a sport from the old red
variety. Thorburn's late rose is a sport
OF the early rose, and there have been sew
eral OF these late sorts originating from
the same sorts and in the same unaccount-
BILE manner. Sometimes a single tuber on
a stock will be found quite different in
color and shape from the others, and if
preserved would become the original of a
very distinct sort. But there are lew per-
sons who are on the lookout for sports;
hence their comparative scarcity Sports
also occur amongrye, wheat, oats, and, in
fact, all cultivated plants, and the careful
and observing farmer may frequently find
them OF considerable value. We mention
these things at the present time in order to
call the attention of our agricultural read
ers to them, and at a season when they are
most likely to be found. A man knowing
what to look for, as we'll as when, fire.
quently has his perceptive faculties so
sharpened that he readily finds what
would otherwise remain unobserved.-N.
7. San.