Selection in Agriculture and Horticulture. 81 



teriorate as soon as the new race is cultivated on a large 

 scale, on account of the consequent cessation of rigid 

 selection. The harvest has therefore less value than the 

 original sample of seed. In this vv^ay the breeder is 

 assured the monopoly of his prize for many years until, 

 may be, his race is superseded by another and a better 

 one. 



The work done and the profits made by the horticul- 

 turist are insignificant compared wnth those of the agri- 

 culturist. The former introduces a few novelties into 

 the garden every year. The latter increases the yield of 

 whole countries. I have often heard farmers speak with 

 pride of their results as compared with those of gar- 

 deners. 



Finally I would mention a good example of the dif- 

 ference in question. Beseler in Anderbeck by years of 

 patient work improved his oats to such an extent that 

 he was able to put them on the market under the name of 

 Anderbecker Oats. This form was bearded, a feature 

 which was found fault with from many quarters, and 

 prejudiced its sale. It was a small matter to make Ander- 

 becker Oats beardless, provided that beardless examples 

 could be found. This happened to be the case ; and since 

 that time Beseler's oats have been beardless.^ 



This difiference between the practice of agricultural 

 and horticultural breeding has in my opinion been largely 

 responsible for the present form of the scientific theory 

 of selection. That which can onh^ be achieved by a few 

 and at the cost of great sagacity and patience, produces 

 a great impression ; that which chance can put into the 

 hands of any one, makes none at all. And so it comes 

 about that the former method has loomed much larger 



*v. RiJMKERj Getreidezuchtung, 1889, pp. 60, 75, and 94 



