THE EVOLUTION OF LIVING BEINGS. Ill 



Cherries (Prunus cerasus, avium etc.). 

 Vol. I, p. 368. „Botanists believe that our cultivated 

 „cherries are descended from one, two, four or even 

 „more wild stocks". 



Apple (Pyrus malus). 



Vol. I, p. 369. „The one source of doubt felt by bo- 

 tanists with respect to the parentage of the apple, 

 „is whether, besides P. malus, two or three other 

 „closely allied wild forms, namely P. acerba and 

 „praecox or paradisiaca, do not deserve to be ranked 

 „as distinct species". 



Pears (Pyrus communis). 

 Vol. I, p. 372. „I need say little on this fruit, which 

 „varies much in the wild state, and to an extraor- 

 dinary degree, when cultivated, in its fruit, flowers 

 „and foliage. One of the most celebrated botanists 

 „in Europe, M. Decaisne has carefully studied the 

 „many varieties; although he formerly believed that 

 „they were derived from more than one species, he 

 „now thinks that they all belong to one." 



Strawberries (Fragaria). 

 Vol I, p. 374. ,,The blending together of two or more 

 ,, aboriginal forms, which there is every reason to be- 

 ,,lieve has occurred with some of our anciently cultiva- 

 „ted productions, we see now actually occurring with 

 ,,our strawberries," *) 



Gooseberry (Ribes grossularia). 

 Vol. I, p. 376. „No one, I believe has hitherto doub- 

 led that all the cultivated kinds are sprung from 

 „the wild plant bearing the name, which is common 



*) Italics are mine. 



