HARDENING AND ADAPTATION 



not gone far enough, have stopped when appa- 

 rently there was no other outcome, but when 

 they were, in reality, only at the beginning, or, 

 at best, in the middle, of their difficulties. It 

 is hard work, — it takes time, it takes patience, 

 it takes persistence, to go on beyond, but is it 

 not worth it? 



"Now and then the limit appears to be 

 passed and the theorist says, *Ah, but this 

 is only an abnormality, a monstrosity.' Yes, 

 but is it? How does he know it is? How 

 does he know but that the very abnormality 

 may not be followed and helped and developed 

 until it becomes a splendid norm, reproducing 

 it again and again and again, strengthening it 

 where necessary, but all the time pressing it 

 forward and finally fixing it? How many 

 normalities have we now in plant life that 

 were not, in one sense, once abnormalities? 



"In hardening a plant from cold, it is 

 generally best to select for stock upon which 

 to work those plants which have naturally 

 the hardiest bulbs, the hardiest leaves, and the 

 hardiest wood, — generally, I say, though not 

 always. An arctic plant which may have all 

 these characteristics may prove very valuable 



199 



