Flowers 



Nothing has hindered the development of our know- 

 ledge of evolution so much as certain vaguenesses in 

 the popular idea of the term " Selection." Selection 

 cannot be rightly described as a cause, any more than 

 a locked gate across one path can be said to force 

 a man to proceed along a different one. Neither a 

 gardener, nor a plant-breeder, nor even an insect visitor 

 can be said to produce any particular variety, but they 

 can, and, in practice, do prevent a bad development 

 from being perpetuated, and they also help forward 

 any encouraging varieties which happen to make their 

 appearance. 



Insects, weather, and the sensitive protoplasm itself, 

 are all necessary to explain the origin of flowers. 



Neither insects alone, nor environment only, nor some 

 inscrutable mutability or doubtful-mindedness of the 

 plant itself can ever explain this mystery. It is a three- 

 fold influence that has been, and still is, for ever working 

 out yet more exquisite gracefulness and lovelier colours 

 than the world has ever seen. 



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