122 Retrograde Varieties 



quiring about their origin. In some cases the 

 name of the originator may be so widely known 

 that it adds weight to the value of the new form, 

 and therefore may advantageously be coupled 

 with it. The origin and history of the greater 

 part of our garden-flowers, fruits and vege- 

 tables are obscure; we see them as they are, 

 and do not know from whence they came. The 

 original habitat for a whole genus or for a 

 species at large, may be known, but questions as 

 to the origin of the single forms, of which it is 

 built up, ordinarily remain unanswered. 



For these reasons we are restricted in most 

 cases to the comparison of the forms before us. 

 This comparison has led to the general use 

 of the term ** variety " in opposition to 

 ^' species." The larger groups of forms, 

 which are known to have been introduced as 

 such are called species. All forms which by 

 their characters belong to such a species are 

 designated as varieties, irrespective of their 

 systematic relation to the form, considered as 

 the ancestor of the group. 



Hence, we distinguish between *^ hybrid va- 

 rieties " and ^^ pure varieties " according to 

 their origin from different parents or from a 

 single line of ancestors. Moreover, in both 

 groups the forms may be propagated by seeds, 

 or in the vegetative way by buds, by grafting or 



