GRASS-LAND AND ARABLE 131 



problem being to graft on to a persistent stock capable 

 of rapid colonization those all-important agricultural 

 characters of nutritiousness and bulk. Before this 

 can be done, and before we can employ Mendelian 

 methods or adopt the more correct and accurate plans 

 of selection, we must know a great deal more about 

 our indigenous plants, and, if possible, be in a position 

 to fasten on to definite characters to work from. 



I have, in this connection, been much struck with 

 the wealth of leguminous herbs always met with on 

 heathy pastures near the sea; it is not only the 

 Leguminosas, however, that colonize these heaths, 

 and which rapidly gain a footing on land put away 

 to artificial grass Crested Dog's-tail, Rough-stalked 

 Meadow Grass, and a dwarf and persistent form of 

 perennial Rye-grass are equally characteristic of such 

 areas. It is a question then whether these plants are 

 definite varieties (if only biologic), and if they would 

 not form peculiarly good stocks upon which to build. 

 It is most desirable to ascertain the trueness to type 

 of these persistent plants. Seed should be collected 

 from selected species from such heaths and the pro- 

 duce sown in widely different habitats and compared 

 against the progeny of seed obtained from the local 

 plants of the same species and against the ordinary 

 commercial seed. From the point of view of breed- 

 ing persistent plants, it will be necessary to decide 

 whether, say, the maritime varieties may be used for 

 general purposes or whether it will be found to be 

 necessary to build upon the indigenous varieties for 

 every characteristic district separately. I can see no 

 solution to this problem other than by a very thorough 

 and complete series of trials trials that are long over- 

 due in relation to the whole problem of acclimatization. 

 It may well be that the conditions under which seed 

 is harvested accentuate certain potentialities in a par- 



