208 Retrograde Varieties 



series, we may, by this discussion, arrive at a 

 more scientific estimation of the phenomena of 

 vicinism, hitherto described. 



The simplest case that may be given, is when 

 an ordinary retrograde variety is cultivated 

 with the species to which it belongs. For in- 

 stance, if dwarfs are cultivated next to the taller 

 type, or a white variety next to the red or 

 blue-flowering species, or thornless forms on 

 neighboring beds with the armed species. 

 Bees and humble-bees, butterflies and moths are 

 seen flying from flower to flower, collecting the 

 honey and carrying pollen. I frequently saw 

 them cross the limits of the neighboring beds. 

 Loaded with the pollen of the variety they visit 

 the flowers of the different species and impreg- 

 nate the stigma with it. And returning to the 

 variety they bring about similar crosses in the 

 flowers of the latter. Hybrid seeds will devel- 

 op in both cases and become mixed with the 

 crop. We now have to ask the question, what 

 sort of plants will arise from these crossed 

 seeds. As a general rule we may state, first 

 that the hybrids of either form of cross are 

 practically the same, secondly that they are not 

 intermediate, but that the character of one par- 

 ent prevails to the almost absolute exclusion 

 of the other and in the third place that the older 

 character dominates the younger. 



