It seems absolutely evident, that no simple loss can account for this
difference. Something of the character of the parent-varieties must have
remained in the plant. And whatever conception we may formulate of these
vestigial characters it is clear that the simplest and most obvious idea
is their preservation in a dormant or latent state. Assuming that the
distinguishing marks have only become inactive by virescence, it is
manifest that on returning each will show its own peculiarities, as
recorded above. Our second point was the incomplete loss of [232] the
distinguishing quality in some varieties. It is of general occurrence,
though often overlooked. Many white varieties of colored flowers give
striking instances, among them many of the most stable and most prized
garden-flowers. If you look at them separately or in little bouquets
they seem to be of irreproachable purity. But if you examine large beds
a pale hue will become visible. In many cases this tinge is so slight as
to be only noticeable in a certain illumination, or by looking in an
oblique direction across the bed; in others it is at once evident as
soon as it has been pointed out. It always reminds the observer of the
color of the species to which the variety belongs, being bluish in
violets and harebells, reddish in godetias and phloxes, in _Silene
Armeria_ and many others.
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