Origination of Varieties 223 



instance, it is now thought that amoena and plicata, 

 long classified as species, may be sports, the one from 

 variegata and the other from pallida. 



Crossing a hybrid with either of its parents (with 

 the same plant or with any plant produced from 

 such parent by division) increases the likelihood of 

 obtaining a plant having characters of that parent; 

 and the likelihood is increased, almost to a certainty, 

 by repeated crosses in successive generations with 

 such parent provided crossing has not resulted in 

 sterility, which sometimes occurs and especially where 

 the parents are of species not closely allied (see 

 page 212). So, also, by crossing a seedling with 

 another vigorous seedling of the same cross, the desired 

 character of either parent of the seedlings may some- 

 times be obtained in combination with characters of 

 the other parent. 



As flies the father-dust, 



The varied colors run; and while they break 

 On the charmed eye, the exulting Florist marks, 

 With secret pride, the wonders of his hand. 



Thompson: The Seasons. 



Oft expectation falls, and most oft there 

 Where most it promises; and oft it hits 

 Where hope is coldest, and despair most sits. 



Shakespeare: All's Well That Ends Well. 



