THE SELF-FERTILIZATION OF PLANTS. 355 



induced return, to the original type of the species, 

 brings with it vigor and fertility. 



Had Darwin but learned the lesson, which is fairly 

 thrust upon him by so many of the facts of breed- 

 ing, — prominent among which, and most significant, is 

 the fact which he records, that the mere increase, of 

 one-half an inch, to one of the sickle tail-feathers of the 

 Fowl, " brings with it increased probability of in- 

 creased fertility," — all of the mystery of the phenomena 

 of fertility, and of sterility, would have been dispelled ; 

 and all necessity of his invoking that most senseless of 

 all expedients, a " law of nature," would have been 

 obviated. 



There is no occasion for the indulgence of such an 

 idle and ignorant wonder, as that to which Darwin 

 gives expression, when it is observed, that each of the 

 positive differences, in the several individuals or varie- 

 ties of a species, which it is possible, and practicable, 

 for each plant to obtain, either, directly, by reversion, 

 or by grafting, or, indirectly, through crossing, ensures 

 a measurable return to the type upon which close- 

 interbreeding, or self-fertilization, is incapable of en- 

 tailing any evil, effect. Each slight difference, which 

 enables a person, acquainted with plants, to distin- 

 guish one from the others, is of moment to the plant ; 

 for, each such slight, positive difference gained, carries 

 with it a guarantee of exemption from weakness and 

 sterility. 



Darwin says, " this, under a physiological point of 

 view, is a most remarkable phenomenon." If he had 

 but paid a tithe of the attention, to the "physiological 



