182 Retrograde Varieties 



larly occurring so-called atavism of the sporting 

 varieties with which we shall deal in a later 

 lecture. If it proves to be real atavism 

 and rare, the case should be accurately 

 described and figured, or photographed if pos- 

 sible; and the exact position of the reverting 

 bud should be ascertained. Very likely the so- 

 called dormant or resting buds are more liable 

 to reversions than the primary ones in the axils 

 of the leaves of young twigs. Then the char- 

 acters of the atavistic branches should be mi- 

 nutely compared with those of the presumed an- 

 cestor ; they may be quite identical with them or 

 slightly divergent, as has been asserted in some 

 instances. The atavism may be complete in one 

 case, but more or less incomplete in others. 



By far the most interesting point is the ques- 

 tion, as to what is to be expected from the seeds 

 of such an atavistic branch. Will they keep 

 true to the reverted character, or return to the 

 characters of the plant which bears the retro- 

 grade branch? Will all of them do so, or only 

 part of them, and how large a part ? It is very 

 astonishing that this question should still be 

 unsolved where so many individual trees bear 

 atavistic branches that remain on them through 

 long series of years. But then many such 

 branches do not flower at all, or if they flower 

 and bear seed, no care is taken to prevent 



