Monstrosities 405 



means at once got up to 34^ of twisted stems. 

 This proportion has since remained practically 

 the same. I have selected and isolated my 

 plants during ^ye succeeding generations, but 

 without any further result, the percentage of 

 twisted stems fluctuating between 30 and 

 about 45 according to the size of the cultures 

 and the favorableness or unfavorableness of the 

 weather. 



It is very interesting to note that all depends 

 on the question whether one has the good for- 

 tune of finding a rich race or not, as this pedi- 

 gree-culture shows. Afterwards everything de- 

 pends on treatment and very little on selection. 

 As soon as the treatment becomes adequate, the 

 full strength of the race at once displays itself, 

 but afterwards no selection is able to improve 

 it to any appreciable amount. Of course, in 

 the long run, the responses will be the same as 

 those of the pistilloid poppies on the average, 

 and some influence of selection will show itself 

 on closer scrutiny. 



Compared with the polycephalous poppies my 

 race of twisted teasels is much richer in atav- 

 ists. They are never absent, and always con- 

 stitute a large part of each generation and each 

 bed, comprising somewhat more than half of the 

 individuals. Intermediate stages between them 

 and the wholly twisted stems are not wanting, 



