FINAL SELECTION 



is called upon to make nice distinctions between 

 individual seedlings of the same variety. All will 

 have the same general formation of stem and leaf. 

 He must look, then, for details of variation 

 that would altogether escape the notice of the 

 untrained observer. But that such differences 

 exist, and that they are signs that to the practiced 

 eye are of the utmost importance, any successful 

 plant experimenter can testify. 



It would obviously be futile to attempt a 

 detailed description of the nice shades of 

 distinction between various seedlings of the same 

 race upon which the plant experimenter depends 

 in forming his selective judgments. That, clearly, 

 must be matter for practical observation. It can 

 be learned nowhere but in the field. But perhaps 

 two or three illustrations may be given that will 

 at least serve in a general way to suggest what 

 manner of traits are taken into consideration 

 when the plant experimenter is choosing the 

 individuals with which he is to continue his 

 experiment. 



A Few Practical Hints 



In selecting raspberry or blackberry plants for 

 color of fruit, for example, there is almost always 

 a correlation of the plant and fruit that will 

 foretell the future crop. 



I have observed in thousands of instances that 



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