If it is granted that latency is not an absolute quality, then it will
be readily accepted, that even latency must be subjected to the laws of
gradual variation or fluctuating variability. We will deal with these
laws in a later lecture but every one knows that greater deviations than
the ordinary may be attained by sowing very large numbers and by
selecting from among them the extreme individuals and sowing anew from
their seed. In this way the slightest tinge of any latent color may be
[234] strengthened, not indeed to the restoration of the tinge of the
species, but at least so far as to leave no doubt as to the identity of
the visible color of the species and the latent or sublatent one of the
variety.
I made such an experiment with the peach leaved harebell or _Campanula
persicifolia_. The white variety of this species, which is often met
with in our gardens, shows a very pale bluish hue when cultivated in
large quantities, which however is subject to individual variations. I
selected some plants with a decided tinge, flowered them separately,
sowed their seeds, and repeated this during two generations. The result
was an increase of the color on the tips of the segments of the corolla
in a few individuals, most of them remaining as purely white as the
original strain.
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