﻿LECTURE 
  XXVI 
  

  

  ASEXUAL 
  MULTIPLICATION 
  OF 
  EXTREMES 
  

  

  Fluctuating 
  variability 
  may 
  be 
  regarded 
  from 
  

   two 
  different 
  points 
  of 
  view. 
  The 
  multiformity 
  

   of 
  a 
  bed 
  of 
  flowers 
  is 
  often 
  a 
  desirable 
  feature, 
  

   and 
  all 
  means 
  which 
  widen 
  the 
  range 
  of 
  fluctua- 
  

   tion 
  are 
  therefore 
  used 
  to 
  enhance 
  this 
  feature, 
  

   and 
  variability 
  affords 
  specimens, 
  which 
  sur- 
  

   pass 
  the 
  average, 
  by 
  yielding 
  a 
  better 
  or 
  larger 
  

   product. 
  

  

  In 
  the 
  case 
  of 
  fruits 
  and 
  other 
  cultivated 
  

   forms, 
  it 
  is 
  of 
  course 
  profitable 
  to 
  propagate 
  

   from 
  the 
  better 
  specimens 
  only, 
  and 
  if 
  possible 
  

   only 
  from 
  the 
  very 
  best. 
  Obviously 
  the 
  best 
  are 
  

   the 
  extremes 
  of 
  the 
  whole 
  range 
  of 
  diverging 
  

   forms, 
  and 
  moreover 
  the 
  extremes 
  on 
  one 
  side 
  of 
  

   the 
  group. 
  Almost 
  always 
  the 
  best 
  for 
  practical 
  

   purposes 
  is 
  that 
  in 
  which 
  some 
  quality 
  is 
  

   strengthened. 
  Cases 
  occur 
  however, 
  in 
  which 
  

   it 
  is 
  desirable 
  to 
  diminish 
  an 
  injurious 
  pecul- 
  

   iarity 
  as 
  far 
  as 
  possible, 
  and 
  in 
  these 
  instances 
  

   the 
  opposite 
  extreme 
  is 
  the 
  most 
  profitable 
  one. 
  

  

  These 
  considerations 
  lead 
  us 
  to 
  a 
  discussion 
  

  

  742 
  

  

  