THE SELF-FERTILIZATION OF PLANTS. 337 



some one part only, of a Plant, and pushing its de- 

 velopment to an extreme point! 



This is the dominant feature of Man's Selection, with 

 Plants, — viz., the disproportionate ascendancy of one 

 part or organ. All of the modes of Selection may be 

 discerned, with Plants, but this carrying of one part 

 alone to an extreme development peculiarly charac- 

 terizes the cultivation of these organisms. 



If it be the fruit, which he values, that character 

 alone is developed, and all of the other features are re- 

 tained in statu quo, or still further reduced. 



If it be the leaves, or the flowers, or the roots, or 

 any other part which, in a given species, subserves his 

 pleasure or profit, the same disproportionate develop- 

 ment is to be seen; and, the individuals are but the 

 more injured, in their reproductive power, by the care 

 which is bestowed upon them. All the parts of the 

 given species, are not concurrently re-developed, in 

 each individual. 



As Darwin shows (p. 14, Vol. i, Animals and Plants, 

 &c), cultivated varieties of Plants " show adaptation to 

 his (Man's) wants and pleasures." 



In order to disclose the cause of the greatly lessened 

 fertility of Plants, after they are placed under domesti- 

 cation, it may be advisable, again to quote Darwin's 

 description of the manner which Man adopts, in the 

 cultivation of plants. Under the heading of " Ten- 

 dency in Man to carry the practice of Selection to an 

 Extreme Point" he says (p. 290, Vol. ii, Animals and 

 Plants, &c): 



"It is an important principle, that, in the process 

 29* 



