166 Retrograde Varieties 



tion of the stability of pure strains. Coming 

 now to the other side of the question, we may 

 consider those cases of reversion which have 

 been recorded from time to time, and which al- 

 ways have been considered as direct proofs of 

 the varietal character of the reverting form. 

 Reversion means the falling back or returning 

 to another type, and the word itself expresses 

 the idea that this latter type is the form from 

 which the variety has arisen. 



Some instances of atavism of this kind are 

 well known, as they are often repeated by in- 

 dividuals that are multiplied by buds or by 

 grafting. Before looking attentively into the 

 different features of the many cases of rare 

 reversions it will be advisable to quote a few 

 examples. 



The flowering-currant of the Pacific Coast 

 or North American scarlet ribes {Ribes san- 

 guineum), a very popular ornamental shrub, 

 will serve as a good example. It is prized be- 

 cause of its brilliant red racemes of flowers 

 which blossom early in the spring, before the ap- 

 pearance of the leaves. From this species a 

 white form has arisen, which is an old and wide- 

 ly cultivated one, but not so highly prized be- 

 cause of its pale flowers. These are not of a 

 pure white, but have retained a faint reddish 

 hue. The young twigs and the stalks of the 



