OBTAINING VARIATIONS 97 



to select these from the others and save their 

 seed. 



So in such a case as that of the balloon-flower, 

 where it is desired to increase three or four quite 

 different qualities in this case size, beauty of 

 form, manner of placement of blossoms, and 

 intensity and clearness of color it does not so 

 very greatly matter whether in the early genera- 

 tions one finds the different qualities combined 

 in a single individual, or whether, as is more 

 likely, he finds one individual that is most grace- 

 ful, another that has blossoms placed on the stalk 

 in the best manner, and a third that shows to 

 best advantage as to intensity and clearness of 

 color. 



It is much more probable, in practice, that the 

 second alternative will be the one actually pre- 

 sented. Indeed, it is altogether unlikely, when 

 new qualities, such as these, that have not hith- 

 erto attracted the attention of the cultivator of 

 the plant, are in question, that one will find a 

 single individual that surpasses all its fellows as 

 to each quality, though this is sometimes the case. 



In fact, with the balloon-flowers, it was neces- 

 sary to save seed of three or four individuals and 

 search among their progeny in turn the follow- 

 ing season, and make additional selections that 

 involved a number of individuals. 



Vol. 7 Bur. D 



