762 Fluctuations 



joined all around, resembling the best types of 

 lilies and amaryllis. 



Striking as this result unquestionably is, it 

 remains doubtful as to what part of it is due to 

 the discovery and introduction of new large 

 flowered species, and what to the selection of 

 the extremes of fluctuating variability. As far 

 as I have been able to ascertain however, and 

 according to the evidence given to me by Mr. 

 Crozy, selection has had the largest part in re- 

 gard to the size, while the color-patterns are 

 introduced qualities. 



The scientific analysis of other intricate ex- 

 amples is still more difficult. To the practical 

 breeder they often seem very simple, but the 

 student of heredity, who wishes to discern the 

 different factors, is often quite puzzled by this 

 apparent simplicity. So it is in the case of 

 the double lilacs, a large number of varieties of 

 which have recently been originated and intro- 

 duced into commerce by Lemoine of Nancy. In 

 the main they owe their origin to the crossing 

 and recrossing of a single plant of the old 

 double variety with the numerous existing 

 single-flowered sorts. 



This double variety seems to be as old as the 

 culture of the lilacs. It was already known to 

 Hunting, who described it in the year 1671. 

 Two centuries afterwards, in 1870, a new de- 



