Origin of Wild Species 603 



cussions we may state that wild new elementary 

 species and varieties are recorded to have 

 appeared from time to time. Invariably this 

 happened by sudden leaps and without interme- 

 diates. The mutants are constant when prop- 

 agated by seed, and at once constitute a new 

 race. In rare instances this may be of sufficient 

 superiority to win a place for itself in nature, 

 but more often it has qualities which have led to 

 its introduction into gardens as an ornamental 

 plant or into botanical gardens by reason of the 

 interest afforded by their novelty, or by their 

 anomaly. 



Many more mutations may be supposed to be 

 taking place all around us, but artificial sowings 

 on a large scale, combined with a close exam- 

 ination of the seedlings and a keen appreciation 

 of the slightest indications of deviation seem 

 required to bring them to light. 



