240 THE SURVIVAL OF THE UNLIKE. [xi. 



fortunes of horticulture, but the first two classes of 

 synonymous names are not only unavoidable but they 

 may serve distinctly useful, purposes. Let us take the 

 Hill's Chili peach as an example of the first class, — 

 the independent origin of like forms. This peach 

 was not described in Downing' s original work, nor 

 even in the revision of 1872. It appears only in 

 the appendix, yet even then it is credited with thir- 

 teen synonyms. Now it is probable that the major 

 part of these synonyms represent types of distinct 

 origin, for it is well known that this variety has 

 a strong tendency to reproduce itself from seed. 

 Last year a peach grower showed ine about a dozen 

 trees, in fruit, of Hill's Chili seedlings, and while 

 each had some minor point of difference, there was 

 only one in the lot which could be called anything 

 else than Hill's Chili. Now, a type of fruit which 

 tends strongly to reproduce itself from seed is one 

 which is virile, because it has the power of renew- 

 ing itself as often as it may be vitiated by poor 

 treatment or careless propagation ; and it is also 

 one which adapts itself readily to a wide range of 

 conditions by means of its recurring variations. 

 Such a type is cosmopolitan. This is one strong 

 point in favor of the Russian apples, which run in 

 families or races, a circumstance which has arisen 

 from long -continued reproduction by seeds with little 

 interposition of graftage. 



As a rule, therefore, the more synonyms a 

 plant has, the greater are the assurances that it will 

 thrive over a wide range of country and in many 

 diverse conditions ; and, in like manner, varieties 

 which belong to well-marked tribes or families 



