CHAP. iv.J REPRODUCTION OF PLANTS. 147 



grave injury to itself, and consequent loss to its short- 

 sighted owner or " sweater." In the case of plants 

 grown for their beauty, a " double flower " is usually 

 considered the proper thing to produce ; this again is a 

 decided retrogression or degeneration, the stamens and 

 pistil under the unusual treatment termed cultivation, 

 fall back to the condition of flattened leaves from which 

 they evolved, and in consequence the flower is prevented 

 by this retrogression from performing the function for 

 which it was gradually evolved, hence the cultivated 

 plant could not possibly retain its changed character due 

 to cultivation, and at the same time hold its own in the 

 struggle for life unaided by man, any more than could 

 those miserable bandy-legged dogs that are so highly 

 prized on account of their very morbidity, and whose 

 only function seems to be that of indicating the calibre 

 of mind of the owner. 



From what has been said respecting the complex 

 evolution of the flower in connection with insect-fer- 

 tilization, it might reasonably be supposed that a process 

 having efi^ected such a complete revolution over pre- 

 viously existing modes of fertilization, and having also 

 reached such approximate perfection, would in a broad 

 sense, subject to minor modifications, endure for all 

 time; nevertheless, the evidence forthcoming does not 

 support this view, and we are perhaps at the present 

 day witnessing the maximum development of the insect- 

 fertilizing idea, with its necessary accompaniment of 

 brilliant colour and fragrance, which, like the preceding 

 . period of wind-fertilized plants, will gradually pass away, 

 being superseded by a newer idea, which is already mani- 

 festing itself in various quarters of the globe, and is 



