262 THE SURVIVAL OP THE UNLIKE, [XIV. 



twenty inches square of soil. Then let us try plants 

 which had no germ -plasm, that is, cuttings from 

 maiden wood. A lot of cuttings were taken from 

 one petunia plant, and these cuttings were gi'own 

 singly in pots in perfectly uniform prepared soil, 

 the pots being completely glazed with shellac and 

 the bottoms closed to prevent drainage. Then each 

 pot was given a weighed amount of different chem- 

 ical fertilizer and supplied with perfectly like weighed 

 quantities of water. All weak or unhealthy plants 

 were thrown out, and a most painstaking effort was 

 made to select perfectly equal plants. But very soon 

 they were unequal. Those fed liberally on jiotMsh 

 were short, those given nitrogen wei-t- tall and 

 lusty ; and the variations in florif erousness and ma - 

 turity were remarkable. The data of maturity and 

 productiveness were as follows : 



Here then, is a variation of thirty -nine days, or 

 over a month, in the time of first bloom, and of 

 an average of fifteen flowers per plant in asexual 

 plants from the same stock, all of which started 

 equal and which were grown in perfectly uniform 

 conditions, save the one element of food. 



was occupied by five burly clumps of red clover. Only two or three of the red- 

 roots were to be seen above the herbajje, and they were spindling and unbranched; 

 yet many of the tiny ones under the clover stools were bearing 8ee<ls. Of all the 

 ragweeds, none were branched. They were simply etiolated specimens, save about 

 the edges of the area, dying in an attempt to reach the light. Most of them were 

 the merest weaklings, soft and wilted and not more than three or four inches 

 high, and it was plain that many hud already died. Of the two shepherd's 

 purses, one was very tall and much branched, whilst the other was a puny thing, 

 with but a single stem; yet both were iu full fruit. The grass was mostly but the 



