FINAL SELECTION 



proportion of individuals growing stoneless fruit, 

 I could select among these the ones that combined 

 with stonelessness the largest proportion of other 

 good qualities, such as size and color and flavor 

 and abundant bearing. 



When presently I had, through selection, 

 developed a som.ewhat fixed strain that combined 

 the qualities of stonelessness with fair size and 

 good flavor, I could then select among the many 

 individuals showing these qualities the particular 

 ones that showed them in fullest measure; and- 

 at the same time I could now have in mind one 

 or two other qualities — say color of fruit and 

 keeping quality — and be guided in my selection 

 by a consideration of these traits in addition to 

 the others that had already been fairly fixed. 



Thus the matter of selection, even when many 

 qualities are to be combined in the ultimate 

 product, is not quite so hopelessly complex as the 

 calculations of the biometricians might lead one 

 to suppose. Yet it is assuredly complex enough 

 to test the patience and the ingenuity of the 

 experimenter to the last degree. 



So the amateur who enters this fascinating 

 field will do well to begin with simple cases, 

 paying heed to a single quality of any flower or 

 fruit with which he experiments; endeavoring to 

 advance along one line till he acquires skill 



[299] 



