THE TRUE DARWINISM. 



7 



An objector observed that " Wei smarm had proved " that any effects on 

 the soma, i.e. the vegetative system in plants, by external agencies could 

 not be hereditary. Not to press the fact that it is impossible " to prove a 

 negative," plants entirely disprove Weismann's assertion, which was only 

 a supposition to support his theory of germ-plasm. Thus our garden 

 varieties of root-crops are hereditary ; but they arose by modifications on 

 the soma long before any reproductive organs existed, as they are biennials. 

 According to Weismann, only those effects of the direct action of the 

 external conditions of life can be hereditary which can reach the repro- 

 ductive organs. Yet round and long-rooted forms of turnips and rape, of 

 the carrot, and of the radish, arose from sowing the seed in stiff and loose 

 soils respectively, and are due to varying degrees of mechanical obstruc- 

 tion ; yet they are now hereditary, and " true " by seed. 



What, then, is the conclusion of the whole matter? It is that 

 Darwinism, or " The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection," 

 must be replaced by " The Origin of Species by means of Response with 

 Adaptation to the Direct Action of New Conditions of Life." This is the 

 real basis of Evolution. 



