382 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



yellow or white stamens, anthers and pollen, (4) never have the smallest particle 

 of black about them. ... It is rather interesting to reflect that the gardens of 

 the whole world — rich man's and poor man's alike — are to-day furnished with 

 popf)ies which are the direct descendents of one single capsule of seed raised in 

 the garden of the Shirley Vicarage so lately as August, 1880. 



It is certain that many more good variations would be discovered if 

 trained people were everywhere on the lookout for them, and it must be 

 remembered that among the cereals, for example, a good new strain 

 will not be a conspicuous object like a red sunflower. There is here a 

 fascinating field for amateurs, with possibilities of vastly increasing 

 the wealth of mankind, or adding beauty to his gardens. Aside, how- 

 ever, from the discovery of new things, there is an almost unlimited 

 field open for the crossing of known varieties, and their recombination 

 along Mendelian lines. Any one who has a garden may do this work, 

 and if nothing else comes of it, it will certainly give much pleasure and 

 an insight into some of the most interesting biological problems of 

 the day. 



