Chapter the Second
Visitors

Darwin Explained Yet More


"Our Abbot would be very interested in these ideas," Brother Matthew said, "I vividly remember all his work with the Pomological Association back in the '30's. He and Diebl offered prizes for concepts such as these and they often acted on them. But, should we not be asking, 'where is the hand of God?' in this? Who, or what, in Herr Darwin's thesis is doing the 'selecting'?"
Once again Brown and Giddings conferred at length in unintelligible English, which all the Germans (and Czech) considered a barbarous language.
"Mr Darwin is, of course, a devout Christian," said Brown carefully, "but in this matter he sees the hand of God only directing the process from afar. There is no direct agent selecting out the fittest of those born, chance plays a considerable role, and simple mathematics determines more than purposeful choice."
"Of course," boomed Grunewald, pleased that something he could understand had reentered the conversation. "What does Herr Darwin have to say about the numbers?"

"In some cases it is a matter of statistics. If a plant produces 40 seeds a year it might leave but one offspring, mice and other pests carrying off the rest of the seeds, but if a companion plant produces 80 seeds it overwhelms the predators, they cannot eat all this bounty and thus more seeds survive to germinate. Next year the more prolific plant has left more offspring to carry on its line than the weaker plant. Over the generations the descendants of the prolific plant outnumber the descendants of the weaker plant. They take the choice habitats, the most fertile soil, those areas that receive most sunlight and rain. Banished to the inferior growing areas, the descendants of the weaker plant suffer additional indignities until they can reproduce no more and their line vanishes from existence. Yet, -Nature has decided the victor by no hand but simple numerical superiority."

"Excellent!" agreed Grunewald, "a perfect outcome. The strong survive and the weak are eventually removed. The blood is strengthened with iron. Once again ...." His peroration was rudely cut short by the arrival of yet another visitor to Mendel's rooms. After an agitated knocking, Brother Timothy oiled his way into the group. His eyes flickered over the membership and any feelings that he had about the composition were kept hidden. Only a slight twisting of his long fingers gave away any discomfort he might be feeling.