The Significance of the Atavists. 
517 
generally known as the coxcomb, is peculiarly well suited 
for an investigation of atavism. The great combs pro- 
duced by this favorite garden plant are merely the se- 
lected well treated and highly nourished individuals, i e., 
the extreme phis variants of the race. 1 All the rest are 
thrown away in their early stages by the gardener; but 
if we wish to know how the race really behaves, we must 
Fig. 116. Celosia cristata. An almost entire plant under 
poor treatment. Top comb-shaped but small ; most of 
the lateral branches were also broadened at their tips. 
make sowings ourselves and plant out all the individuals 
without selection, and cultivate them further. It is well 
known that in this way we obtain numerous plants with 
branched stems and with a much lower degree of the 
anomaly (Figs. 116 and 117). By the selection of these 
minus variants for further cultivation one might expect, 
1 For the mode of cultivation suitable for this variety see MOL- 
LER'S Deutsche Gartenzeitung, 1892, p. 200. 
