Polycephalic Poppies 391 



most favorable, not only from the beginning of 

 their own life in the field, but also during their 

 embryonic stages, and even during the prepara- 

 tion of these latter in the life of their parents 

 and perhaps even their grandparents. Selec- 

 tion then, would only be the choice of the best 

 nourished individuals. 



In connection with the foregoing arguments 

 I have tried to separate the choicest of the pop- 

 pies with the largest crown of pistilloid stamens, 

 from that of the most vigorous individuals. As 

 we have already seen, these two attributes are 

 as a rule proportional to one another. Excep- 

 tions occur, but they may be explained by some 

 later changes in the external circumstances, as 

 I have also pointed out. As a rule, these ex- 

 ceptions are large fruits with comparatively too 

 few converted stamens; they are exactly the 

 contrary from what is required for a selection. 

 Or plants, which from the beginning were 

 robust, may have become crowded together by 

 further growth, and for these reasons become 

 weaker than their congeners, though retaining 

 the full development of the staminodal crown, 

 which was fixed during the sensitive period and 

 before the crowding. I have searched my beds 

 yearly for several years in vain to find individ- 

 uals which might recommend themselves for se- 

 lection without having the stamp of permanent, 



