SELECTIVE EVOLUTION 209 



It would seem that much of the ingenuity 

 evident in nature is directed toward a twofold 

 end: 



First, toward producing an endless combina- 

 tion of heredities in plants of the same kind — 

 which, to give them a name, we may call crosses. 



And second, to prevent the combination of 

 things out of kind — ^which, to distinguish them 

 from crosses, we may call hybrids. 



The first aim insures infinite variation — the 

 mixing up of parallel strains of heredity in such 

 a way that no two living things are exactly alike, 

 and that, in each new balance of tendencies pro- 

 duced, there is the possibility of an improvement. 



The second explains why, though all roses dif- 

 fer from each other, yet all are roses — why, 

 though every living thing has its own individual- 

 ity, its own personality, each bears the unmistak- 

 able characteristics of its kind. 



"Here and there through nature, nevertheless, 

 are hybrids. Are these accidents — the result of 

 some carelessness, some lapse?" 



Everything that is, is a definite part of the 

 Scheme of Things. 



We see crossing between kinds and realize its 

 tendencj^ and purpose, and see its value in the 

 Scheme, because it is going on about us always, 

 everywhere — ^because it is a quick-moving pro- 



