Chap. XX. SELECTION. 203 



presented, if we compare the flowers of the varieties of these 

 two plants with those of any species cultivated in our flower- 

 gardens for ornament ; or if we compare their seeds with 

 those of the varieties of maize, peas, beans, &c., which are 

 valued and cultivated for their seeds. In the ninth chapter 

 it was shown that the varieties of the pea differ but little 

 except in the tallness of the plant, moderately in the shape of 

 the pod, and greatly in the pea itself, and these are all selected 

 j)oints. The varieties, however, of the Pois sans parchemin 

 difier much more in their pods, and these are eaten and valued. 

 I cultivated twelve varieties of the common bean ; one alone, 

 the Dwarf Fan, differed considerably in general appearance ; 

 two differed in the colour of their flowers, one being an albino, 

 and the other being wholly instead of partially purple ; several 

 differed considerably in the shape and size of the pod, but far 

 more in the bean itself, and this is the valued and selected part. 

 Toker's bean, for instance, is twice-and-a-half as long and 

 broad as the horse-bean, and is much thinner and of a different 

 shape. 



The varieties of the gooseberr}^, as formerly described, differ 

 much in their fruit, but hardly perceptibly in their flowers or 

 organs of vegetation. With the plum, the differences likewise 

 appear to be greater in the fruit than in the flowers or leaves. 

 On the other hand, the seed of the strawberry, which corre- 

 sponds with the fruit of the plum, differs hardly at all ; whilst 

 every one knows how greatly the fruit — that is, the enlarged 

 receptacle — differs in several varieties. In apples, pears, 

 and peaches the flowers and leaves differ considerably, but not, 

 as far as I can judge, in proportion with the fruit. The 

 Chinese double- flowering peaches, on the other hand, show 

 that varieties of this tree have been formed, which differ 

 more in flower than in fruit. If, as is highly probable, the 

 peach is the modified descent of the almond, a surprising 

 amount of change has been effected in the same species, 

 in the fleshy covering of the former and in the kernels of the 

 latter. 



When parts stand in close relationship to each other, such 

 as the seed and the fleshy covering of the fruit (v/hatever 

 its homological nature may be), changes in the one are 



