ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 11 



were considered private property. The next step 

 in cultivation and this would require but little 

 forethought would be to sow the seeds of useful 

 plants ; and as the soil near the hovels of the 

 natives would often be in some degree manured, 

 improved varieties would sooner or later arise. 

 Or a wild and unusually good variety of a native 

 plant might attract the attention of some wise old 

 savage ; and he would transplant it, or sow its 

 seed." 



