﻿Multiplication 
  of 
  Extremes 
  747 
  

  

  Putting 
  this 
  discussion 
  in 
  other 
  terms, 
  we 
  find 
  

   every 
  individual 
  and 
  every 
  organ 
  in 
  the 
  adult 
  

   state 
  corresponding 
  with 
  a 
  single 
  ordinate 
  of 
  

   the 
  curve. 
  The 
  curve 
  indicates 
  the 
  range 
  of 
  

   possibilities, 
  the 
  ordinate 
  shows 
  the 
  choice 
  that 
  

   has 
  been 
  made. 
  Now 
  it 
  is 
  clear 
  at 
  once 
  that 
  

   this 
  choice 
  has 
  not 
  been 
  made 
  suddenly 
  but 
  

   gradually. 
  Halfway 
  of 
  the 
  development, 
  the 
  

   choice 
  is 
  halfway 
  determined, 
  but 
  the 
  other 
  half 
  

   is 
  still 
  undefined. 
  The 
  first 
  half 
  is 
  the 
  same 
  for 
  

   all 
  the 
  organs 
  of 
  the 
  plant, 
  and 
  is 
  therefore 
  

   termed 
  individual; 
  the 
  second 
  differs 
  in 
  the 
  

   separate 
  members, 
  and 
  consequently 
  is 
  known 
  as 
  

   partial. 
  Which 
  of 
  the 
  two 
  halves 
  is 
  the 
  greater 
  

   and 
  which 
  the 
  lesser, 
  of 
  course 
  depends 
  on 
  the 
  

   cases 
  considered. 
  

  

  Finally 
  we 
  may 
  describe 
  a 
  single 
  example, 
  the 
  

   length 
  of 
  the 
  capsules 
  of 
  the 
  evening-primrose. 
  

   This 
  is 
  highly 
  variable, 
  the 
  longest 
  reaching 
  

   more 
  than 
  twice 
  the 
  length 
  of 
  the 
  smallest. 
  

   Many 
  capsules 
  are 
  borne 
  on 
  the 
  same 
  spike, 
  

   and 
  they 
  are 
  easily 
  seen 
  to 
  be 
  of 
  unequal 
  size. 
  

   They 
  vary 
  according 
  to 
  their 
  position, 
  the 
  

   size 
  diminishing 
  in 
  the 
  main 
  from 
  the 
  base 
  up- 
  

   wards, 
  especially 
  on 
  the 
  higher 
  parts. 
  Like- 
  

   wise 
  the 
  fruits 
  of 
  weaker 
  lateral 
  branches 
  are 
  

   smaller. 
  Curves 
  are 
  easily 
  made 
  by 
  measuring 
  

   a 
  few 
  hundred 
  capsules 
  from 
  corresponding 
  

   parts 
  of 
  different 
  plants, 
  or 
  even 
  by 
  limiting 
  the 
  

  

  