324 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



has now acquired a dominion over the material world, 

 and a consequent power of increase, so as to render 

 it probable that the whole surface of the earth may 

 soon be overrun by this engrossing anomaly, to the 

 annihilation of every wonderful and beautiful variety 

 of animal existence which does not administer to his 

 wants, principally as laboratories of preparation to befit 

 cruder elemental matter for assimilation by his organs. 

 ****** 



" The consequences are being now developed of our 

 deplorable ignorance of, or inattention to, one of the 

 most evident traits of natural history that vegetables, 

 as well as animals, are generally liable to an almost 

 unlimited diversification, regulated by climate, soil, 

 nourishment, and new commixture of already-formed 

 varieties. In those with which man is most intimate, 

 and where his agency in throwing them from their 

 natural locality and disposition has brought out this 

 power of diversification in stronger shades, it has been 

 forced upon his notice, as in man himself, in the dog, 

 horse, cow, sheep, poultry, in the apple, pear, plum, 

 gooseberry, potato, pea, which sport in infinite varieties, 

 differing considerably in size, colour, taste, firmness of 

 texture, period of growth, almost in every recognizable 

 quality. In all these kinds man is influential in pre- 

 venting deterioration, by careful selection of the largest 

 or most valuable as breeders." * 



* Sec 'Naval Timber and Arboriculture,' by Patrick Matthew, 

 published by Adam and C. Black, Edinburgh, and Longmans and Co., 

 London, 1831, pp. 364, 365, 381-388, and also 106-108, ' Gardeners' 

 Chronicle,' April 7, 1860. 



