210 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



and it can not be very long before our list is considerably in- 

 creased. 



It is absolutely necessary to recollect that in most cases varia- 

 tions are slight. Dr. Masters and Mr. Darwin have called atten- 

 tion to this and have adduced many illustrations, all of which 

 show the necessity of extreme patience and caution. The general 

 student curious in such matters can have hardly any task more 

 instructive than the detection of the variations in such common 

 plants as the blueberry, the wild cherry, or the like. It is an ex- 

 cellent preparation for a practical study of the variations in our 

 wild fruits suitable for selection. 



It was held by the late Dr. Gray that the variations in Nature 

 by which species have been evolved were led along useful lines — 

 a view which Mr. Darwin regretted he could not entertain. How- 

 ever this may be, all acknowledge that by the hand of the culti- 

 vator variations can be led along useful lines ; and, furthermore, 

 the hand which selects must uphold them in their unequal strife. 

 In other words, it is one thing to select a variety and another to 

 assist it in maintaining its hold upon existence. Without the 

 constant help of the cultivator who selects the useful variety, 

 there comes a reversion to the ordinary specific type which is fitted 

 to cope with its surroundings. 



I think you can agree with me that the p'rospect for new 

 fruits and for improvements in our established favorites is fairly 

 good. 



IV. Timbers and Cabinet Woods. — Can we look for new 

 timbers and cabinet woods ? Comparatii^ely few of those in com- 

 mon use are of recent introduction. Attempts have been made to 

 bring into great prominence some of the excellent trees of India 

 and Australia which furnish wood of much beauty and timber of 

 the best quality. A large projDortion of all the timbers of the 

 South Seas are characterized by remarkable firmness of texture 

 and high specific gravity.* The same is noticed in many of the 

 woods of the Indies. A few of the heavier and denser sorts, like 

 jarrah, of West Australia, and sabicu, of the Caribbean Islands, 

 have met with deserved favor in England, but the cost of trans- 

 portation militates against them. It is a fair question whether in 

 certain parts of our country these trees and others which can be 

 utilized for veneers may not be cultivated to advantage. Atten- 

 tion should be again called to the fact that many plants succeed 

 far better in localities which are remote from their origin, but 

 where they find conditions substantially like those which they 

 have left. This fact, to which we must again refer in detail 

 with regard to certain other classes of plants, may have some bear- 



* Useful Native Plants of Australia. By J. H. Maiden, Sydney. 



