But there are other problems which the most
complete of institutions are not able to study if opportunity is not
offered them, and such opportunities are apt to occur more often in
fields, gardens, parks, woods and plains, than in the relatively small
experimental gardens of even the largest institution. Therefore,
whosoever has the good fortune to find such sports, should never allow
the occasion to pass without making an investigation that may bring
results of very great importance to science.
[185]
LECTURE VII
FALSE ATAVISM OR VICINISM
About the middle of the last century Louis de Vilmorin showed that it
was possible to subject plants to the methods of amelioration of races
then in use for domestic animals, and since that time atavism has played
a large part in all breeding-processes. It was considered to be the
greatest enemy of the breeder, and was generally spoken of as a definite
force, working against and protracting the endeavors of the
horticulturist.
No clear conception as to its true nature had been formulated, and even
the propriety of designating the observed phenomena by the term atavism
seemed doubtful. Duchesne used this word some decades ago to designate
those cases in which species or varieties revert spontaneously, or from
unknown internal causes, to some long-lost characters of their
ancestors.
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