324 THE SURVIVAL OP THE UNLIKE. [xiX. 



York.* . As peach trees are propagated by buds, we 

 regard the Georgia and New Jersey trees, being the 

 same variety, as parts of the same individual. The 

 learned and careful Thomas Andrew Knight believed in 

 this method of acclimatization by individual variation, 

 as evidenced by the following remarks concerning off- 

 spring of cuttings : t "If two plants of the vine or 

 other tree of similar habits, or even if obtained from 

 cuttings of the same tree, were placed to vegetate 

 during several successive seasons, in very different 

 climates : if the one were planted on the banks of 

 the Rhine and the other on those of the Nile, each 

 would adapt its habits to the climate in which it were 

 placed, and if both were subsequently brought, in 

 early spring, into a climate similar to that of Italy, 

 the plant which had adapted its habits to a cold cli- 

 mate would instantly vegetate, while the other would 

 remain perfectly torpid." 



II. Acclimatization through variation in offspring 

 is supported by a multitude of records and by com- 

 mon experience. In this connection a few examples 

 will sufficiently indicate the direction of proof. 



A. The offspring of cultivated plants vary much 

 in ability to resist heat, cold, dryness or other peculi- 

 arity, of climate. Whenever such an individual be- 

 comes hardier than the parent species, acclimatization 

 has taken place. Nor is it necessary that in every case 

 the hardiness should exceed that of the species, for 

 there may be cases in which all the domesticated 

 offspring have become more tender than the parent 

 species, and increase of hardiness in any of this 



*Fitz, Southern Apple and Peach Culturist, 237. 

 t Horticultural Papers 173. 



