FLOWER POSSIBILITIES 203 



generations by selective breeding without the aid 

 of special experiments in hybridizing. 



But this case is presented here at the beginning 

 of our special studies of flower development, 

 largely to emphasize the possibility of modifying 

 even so fixed a structure as the leaf of a 

 plant merely by selection of individual speci- 

 mens that vary in a given direction for a few 

 generations. 



I would emphasize, however, the necessity of 

 operating with a large number of specimens if 

 one is to obtain the best results in the shortest 

 practicable time. The account of the experiment 

 just given makes it clear that by having large 

 numbers to choose from, I was enabled to discard 

 numberless specimens that would have answered 

 the purpose fairly well in favor of the single 

 specimen that showed the desired quality modi- 

 fied preeminently. 



THE QUESTION OF HYBRIDIZING 



This case, as was said, illustrates the possi- 

 bility of producing striking results in plant modi- 

 fication by mere selection without hybridization. 

 No effort was made to induce the plant to vary 

 more rapidly, first because there seemed no neces- 

 sity for stimulating it to further variation, and 

 secondly because no plant was at hand which 



