ON THE AMARYLLIS 



But, indeed, the experiment became even more 

 complex as it proceeded to additional stages. 



For by this time I was in possession of several 

 other species of amaryllis, and these also were 

 worked into the combination by hybridizing with 

 different members of the fourth-generation 

 hybrids already introduced. 



The new species would be crossed with various 

 of the hybrids to accentuate certain qualities of 

 size of flower or color or prolific bearing; and the 

 new hybrids thus produced would in turn be inter- 

 bred, until the tangled web of their heredity was 

 quite beyond unravelling. 



Getting Results 



But at each stage of such a series of experi- 

 ments the plant developer of course watches for 

 results and is guided by results. 



He has learned by this time of the tendencies 

 to variation that exist. He has gained a clear idea 

 as to the various new races that he hopes to 

 develop. And he is able, through selection of 

 plants for his new matings, and through selection 

 among the seedlings of the ones from which to 

 save seeds, to direct the currents of heredity into 

 desired channels. 



As I have elsewhere phrased it, the plant 

 experimenter becomes an effective part of the 

 environment. He becomes the most important 



[87] 



