THE WORK OF WINDS AND INSECTS 155 



Suppose that among a mass of Viola-plants growing 

 together, one in particular has a greater capability than 

 the rest to grow longer flower-stems ; and that in conse- 

 quence fuller sunshine is gained by its flowers than by 

 those of any other plant in the group. As a result, those 

 flowers will be more visited by insects, and will receive 

 fuller supplies of pollen ; so that, in the course of genera- 

 tions, this particular form of Viola will become more 

 abundant than other and weaker kinds. Here at 

 once is a very simple form of such " survival." The 

 wonderful power seen in plants to adapt themselves to 

 varying conditions seems sometimes to draw very near 

 to actual animal-intelligence. 



Gardeners can do a great deal for the producing of 

 new forms ; not, like insects, without understanding, 

 but with deliberate intention. Countless new and lovely 

 kinds have thus come into existence ; and each year we 

 have more and more of them. 



Many years ago only the red form of the common 

 Poppy was known. But the owner of a garden, where a 

 bed of them grew, found one day among the rest a single 

 blossom of a different hue. He at once marked it ; and 

 when it seeded he kept the seeds and sowed them apart. 

 Then, when the young plants grew, he watched carefully 

 till more of the unusual tints made their appearance; 

 and again he marked these, kept the seeds, and grew 

 fresh generations of plants, with pink and striped flowers, 

 never seen before. They w^ere named " Shirley Poppies," 

 from the place where the selection occurred. 



This probably was simply a natural development, a 

 " Freak of Nature," not due to any " Crossing." 



