516 Tlic hicoiistancy of Fasciatcd Races. 



In the summer of 1895 I isolated some of the atavists 

 of my race of Crcpis biennis described above, before they 

 flowered.^ The seeds were sown in the following year 

 and produced over 350 plants. About 20% of these ex- 

 hibited the comb-like structure in the center of the ro- 

 settes, and this line sometimes reached a length of five 

 centimeters. Thus we see that the seeds of the atavists 

 may produce fasciations in about the same quantities as 

 do the selected fasciated individuals. Inasmuch as the 

 monstrosity frequently lowers the strength of the plant, 

 it might perhaps even be advisable to choose the seeds 

 of the atavists or of individuals which are only fasciated 

 on their lateral branches. 



A further proof of the view' that the atavists are only 

 fasciated individuals with their character in a latent con- 

 dition is afforded by experiments on the effect of thor- 

 ough manuring. For the individuals which under normal 

 favorable circumstances behave as atavists can be in- 

 duced bv it to a relatively considerable development of 

 fasciations. In 1895 I made such an experiment with 

 my strain of Crcpis biennis fasciata which then contained 

 some 20 to 40% of fasciated individuals every year. I 

 manured a group of 41 plants with an abundance of horn- 

 meal. At the time of ripening only six of these lacked 

 the anomaly, i. e., 85% instead of 40% were fasciated. 

 The plants stood fairly close together, at distances of 

 about 20 centimeters apart. If I had given them enough 

 room I should probably have succeeded in inducing the 

 anomaly in every one of them.- 



The fasciated commercial race of Celosia cristata, 



* Botanisch Jaarhoek, Gent, 1897, p. 66. 



^ Botanisch Jaarhoelz, 1897, p. 66; and Bull. Scicntif., loc. cit, 

 Vol. XXVII, p. 413. 



