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492 Scientific Intelligence. 
already been oe are hypothetically regarded as degraded 
from higher flora es. 
e are bound = glance at some of the considerations which 
are adduced in support of this thesis. They are multifarious and 
of unequal value. As has occurred in other cases, so here also, 
the weightiest objections to te Darwin 
e has himself brought out, namely, the fact that, as tested 
‘experimentally under red tee tee while some plants are much in- 
creased in vigor and fertility by artificial intercrossing, others are 
not sensibly benefited; and that the benefit derived in marked 
cases is not cumulative, but reaches its maximum in two or three 
sionally gives td to very vigorous o fully prolific self-fertile 
of little or no mater in nature, ms ‘alied ld be remembered that 
Soniagiacinaae races are in similar case. Races exist which have 
a 
imminent but that some embryos may originate without it. (See 
preceding volume of this Journal, p. 334. 
In short, the facts brought = by Darwin and others, and all 
the chido of the present essay, are best harmonized by the 
conception which the former has consistently maintained, namely, 
that an occasional cross suffices to secure the benefit of inter- 
ing, whatever that may be. Nothing yet_ saspened which 
a, disturbs our conviction that just this is what nature 
. lly ba we vides for. 
duce 
Occasionally the reported facts will not bear scrutiny. Gen- 
tiana Andrewsii, it is said, never opens at all in America. It 
emerge i one, We have, in this tact yen aes how it is 
that self-fertilization is impossible during the first three or four 
days of 
eons, but neatly sieca ay afterwards. It is rash to 
