95

[Darwin's handwriting:] The account of I. Balearica is accurate.—
The greater hardiness agrees with Gartners fact of this in hybrids

 

The young trees raised from the seed of the Ilex Perado are 50 in number, all fine healthy plants not less than 14 years old, till the last three years none reached one foot in height, they now average eighteen inches, while a few have reached two feet.

The Ilex Perado which produced the seed, grows on the south associated wall, where it has stood about thirty five years, and some seasons produced fruit freely; near to it is the general collection of Hollies, the large green varieties flowering every year, the probability is that the flowers have been fertilized by pollen from the Common green variety, a tree thirty feet high growing within 60 feet of the Ilex Perado.

 

[Darwin's handwriting:] The Branches sent, show a most surprising diversity in leaves & aspect. (rather very close to Hodgkins Holly) — very unlike I. Perado all pricking. some small leaved. — This great diversity not like Hybridity.—

"Hereditary Variations of Plants. Extract from the 'Gardeners and Farmers Journal' of September 9 1848.
 The following not less remarkable or interesting fact was related to us by Mr McNab namely that he had sown the seeds of Ilex Balearica from which he had produced the common Holly. He had also raised from the seeds of the tender Madeira Holly Ilex Perado a variety identical with that known as Hodgin's Holly and although the offspring of a tender parent yet like Hodgin's variety it was also quite hardy. We regard these as extremely interesting facts. We have here the Ilex Balearica reverting back into the type of the genus the common English Holly and this too although an exotic and acknowledged species while in the case of the Ilex Perado a plant scarcely deserving the name of even half hardy it produces an off spring not only wholly different and unlike itself but what is far more remarkable the progeny is hardy while the parent is tender. Editor of the Gardeners Journal in an article intituled Notes of a Gardening Tour and referring to the Botanic Garden of Edinburgh". The Phytologist 3 (1848): 319. This extract was cited in the 1851 ed. of Vestiges. Darwin noted this in CUL-DAR73.93-94.