344 3 Boas: NUMBERS OF 
bilities are almost equal, and consequently has only mathematical 
and not biological significance. 
According to Harris’s formula, if (n + s) represents the mean 
number of sporophylls with their deviations and, let us say, p the 
percentage of pistils and z, their deviations from their ‘probable 
number” the pistils would be represented by the formula 
(n + s)p + zp, and the stamens by the formula (m + s)(I — p) — 2s 
where z, is the deviation of the stamens from their “probable 
number” and zg, = 2». The sum of the pistils and stamens must, 
of course, equal (7 + 5), the total number of sporophylls. He then 
correlates the variables s and gz, assuming that z is not contained 
in s. 
We may analyze Harris’s formula for pistils to determine which 
values are known and which are unknown. If » represents the 
average total number of sporophylls, 7, that of pistils, 7, that of 
stamens then» =”,+,. m,+ x are the pistils with their devia- 
tions, », + y the stamens with their deviations. The deviation of 
the total number of sporophylls from their. mean, s, equals x + 9; 
so that Harris’s value for sporophylls (zn +s) =”, +n,+x+y. 
Since p represents the percentage of pistils, it is equal to p/(m»+Ms), 
and Harris’s value for pistils, given above, becomes 
in +a + ¥)——— + & 
ak 
Z» is the only unknown value. We may find its value from the 
following equation: 
\gusesese” 
Pag 2p = =p -_ x, 
the number of pistils plus their deviation. Solving this 
= = ek = Moy 
. Na+ n, 
S=x+y. 
Therefore, correlating s, the total number of sporophylls, with 2,, 
the deviation of the pistils from their “probable value,” 
: i ae see NX — Nyy te 
