But almost without exception they were poor in anomalous
stamens, at least so on the terminal heads. On a lot of some 70 plants
more than 50 had less than half a crown of secondary capsules, while
from the same packet of seed the control-plants gave in an equal number
more than half of filled crowns on all plants with the exception of five
weak specimens.
It is curious to compare such artificially injured plants with the
ordinary cultures. Strong stems and heavy fruits, which otherwise are
always indicative of showy crowns, now bear fruits wholly or nearly
destitute of any anomalous change. The commonly prevailing rule seems to
be reversed, showing thereby the possibility of abolishing the
correlation between individual strength and anomaly by an artificial
encroachment upon the normal conditions.
Aside from these considerations the experiments clearly give proof of
the existence of a period of sensibility limited to the first weeks of
the life of the plant for the terminal flower. This knowledge enables us
to explain many apparent [388] parent abnormalities, which may occur in
the experiments.
We now may take a broader view of the period of sensibility. Evidently
the response to external influences will be greater the younger the
organ. Sensibility will gradually diminish, and the phenomena observed
in the last part of this period may be considered as the last remainder
of a reaction which previously must have been much stronger and much
readier, providing that it would be possible to isolate them from, and
contrast them with, the other responses of the same plant.
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