358 Ever-sporting Varieties 



the individuals with the largest numbers a 

 tendency to become double would be evolved. 

 Such, however, was not the case. No propen- 

 sity to vary in any definite direction could be 

 observed. Quite on the contrary, an average 

 condition was quickly reached, and then re- 

 mained constant, strongly counteracting all 

 selection. 



Such experiences clearly show that the same 

 anomaly may occur in different species, and no 

 doubt also in strains of same species from dif- 

 ferent localities, according to at least two differ- 

 ent standards. The one is to be called the poor, 

 and the other the rich variety. The first always 

 produces relatively few instances of the devia- 

 tion, the last is apt to give as many of them as 

 desired. The first is only half-way a variety, 

 and therefore would deserve the name of a half- 

 race ; the second is not yet a full constant vari- 

 ety, but always fluctuates to and fro between the 

 varietal and the specific mark, ever-sporting in 

 both directions. It holds a middle position be- 

 tween a half-race and a variety, and there- 

 fore might be called a *' between-race. " But 

 the term ever-sporting variety seems more ade- 

 quate to convey a right idea of the nature of 

 this curious type of inheritance. 



From this discussion it will be seen that the 

 behavior of the crimson clover is not to be con- 



