The last sentence offers a fair example of the misrepresentation to which Mr. Burbank's horticultural work has been so profusely the object. A similar progeny of a hybrid oak is included in experimental cultures in New York, and the observer may readily see that the physiological possibilities are not exhausted in either case. To illustrate the possible variations in form would require many millions of individuals, as may be seen when a simple computation shows that seven single differentiations would require more than sixteen thousand individuals for their exemplification, if the characters behaved as indivisible units. If, however, qualities or characters are capable of modification or variation, as indicated by the quotation, the number of different forms of any organ of the entire plant would be so large as to make estimates useless. Then again by what extended experimentation have the conceivable variations in every function been ascertained?
A wider range of literary license prevails in some recent articles by Mr. E. A. Ortmann. Among other inaccuracies he says:
Although somewhat familiar with 'Die Mutationstheorie' and 'Species and Varieties,' no explanation occurs to me to account for this mistaken statement. A few combination forms were found and faithfully recorded by de Tries, but these were certainly not intergrades, whatever might be said of them.
Mr. Ortmann's discussions introduce a novel feature, in his estimate of the futility of experimental methods, which has the sole merit of boldness, coming at a time when the greater number of workers in the subject are turning from discussions and statements of opinion to actual observations. A mistrust is shown by him of experiments 'under artificial and unnatural conditions, as for instance in the botanical garden, or with domesticated forms.' Several months ago the following characterization of this attitude was given in a paper on the subject:[1]
- ↑ 'Heredity and Origin of Species,' Monist, January. 1906.
