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On the doubtful nativity of Daucus Carota and Fastinaca sativa. 

 By J. BucKMAN, Professor of Geology and Botany. 



It is now generally admitted that parsnips and carrots, in the state 

 known to farmers and gardeners, are derived from wild plants : thus the 

 edible parsnip is supposed to have been derived from the Fastinaca sativa, 

 wild parsnip, now so common a denizen of our fields, and the Daucus 

 Carota, wild carrot, equally common, is referred to as the original of the 

 carrot. Now upon experiments in ennobling of our wild parsnip, I 

 have already laid some evidence before the Cotteswold Club ; it may, 

 however, be well to remark that experiments in this matter, both aa 

 regards parsnips and carrots, have met with varied success. 



Thus De Candolle is reported to have tried to improve the carrot, 

 with success, whilst with the parsnip he utterly failed. Professor 

 LiNDLEY tells us that M. Pousaed has ascertained "that the wild parsnip 

 becomes improved immediately when cultivated, and that experiments 

 promise well," — how well I have proved by developing a new and superior 

 sort. Again with regard to the carrot, the Professor says — "that the 

 hard-rooted wild carrot is really the parent of our cultivated varieties, 

 remarkable as they are for the succulence and tenderness of their roots, 

 has been experimentally proved by M. Vilmorin, who succeeded in 

 obtaining, by cultivation, perfectly tender eatable roots, from seeds saved 

 from plants only three or four generations off the wild species." 



Still a modern French Naturalist, of great experience, M. Decaisne, 

 tells us that he has tried to ennoble the wild carrot and has not 

 succeeded, and from this he draws the conclusion that oiu- cultivated 

 forms were especially created for the use of man. As we should suppose 

 that very few botanists agree to this theoiy, we shall let the facts we 

 have already brought forward stand in maintenance of its opposite, 

 namely, that cultivated forms are derived fi-om wild species, often 

 apparently veiy different ; at the same time, it may be well to state, 

 that in all probability some of the discrepancies of experimenters may 

 have arisen fi'om some confusion in the species operated upon. In 1860 

 I gathered some seed of the Daucus maritima, (sea-side caiTot) at 

 Bognor, which, on being sown in a prepared plot the following spring, 

 certainly resulted in fairly succulent roots, which, on being cooked, 

 were pronounced by our party of four, to be excellent. "While on this 



