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  Fluctuations 
  

  

  or 
  to 
  a 
  less 
  prominent 
  character 
  combined 
  with 
  

   an 
  extreme 
  subordinate 
  deviation. 
  

  

  Hence 
  it 
  is 
  manifest 
  that 
  even 
  the 
  results 
  

   of 
  such 
  a 
  highly 
  improved 
  technical 
  method 
  do 
  

   not 
  deserve 
  the 
  confidence 
  usually 
  put 
  in 
  them. 
  

   They 
  are 
  open 
  to 
  doubt, 
  and 
  the 
  highest 
  figures 
  

   do 
  not 
  really 
  indicate 
  the 
  best 
  representatives 
  

   of 
  the 
  race. 
  In 
  order 
  to 
  convey 
  this 
  conception 
  

   to 
  you 
  in 
  a 
  still 
  stronger 
  manner, 
  let 
  us 
  consider 
  

   the 
  partial 
  variability 
  as 
  it 
  usually 
  shows 
  itself. 
  

   The 
  various 
  leaves 
  of 
  a 
  plant 
  may 
  noticeably 
  

   vary 
  in 
  size, 
  the 
  flowers 
  in 
  color, 
  the 
  fruits 
  in 
  

   flavor. 
  They 
  fluctuate 
  around 
  an 
  average, 
  which 
  

   is 
  assumed 
  to 
  represent 
  the 
  approximate 
  value 
  

   of 
  the 
  whole 
  plant. 
  But 
  if 
  we 
  were 
  allowed 
  to 
  

   measure 
  only 
  one 
  leaf, 
  or 
  to 
  estimate 
  only 
  one 
  

   flower 
  or 
  fruit, 
  and 
  be 
  compelled 
  to 
  conclude 
  

   from 
  it 
  the 
  worth 
  of 
  the 
  whole 
  plant, 
  what 
  mis- 
  

   takes 
  we 
  could 
  make! 
  We 
  might 
  indeed 
  hit 
  

   upon 
  an 
  average 
  case, 
  but 
  we 
  might 
  as 
  easily 
  

   get 
  an 
  extreme, 
  either 
  in 
  the 
  way 
  of 
  increase 
  

   or 
  of 
  decrease. 
  In 
  both 
  cases 
  our 
  judgment 
  

   would 
  be 
  badly 
  founded. 
  Now 
  who 
  can 
  

   assure 
  us 
  that 
  the 
  single 
  root 
  of 
  a 
  given 
  

   beet 
  is 
  an 
  average 
  representative 
  of 
  the 
  partial 
  

   variability? 
  The 
  fact 
  that 
  there 
  is 
  only 
  one 
  

   main 
  root 
  does 
  not 
  prove 
  anything. 
  An 
  annual 
  

   plant 
  has 
  only 
  one 
  stem, 
  but 
  a 
  perennial 
  species 
  

   has 
  many. 
  The 
  average 
  height 
  of 
  the 
  last 
  is 
  a 
  

  

  