Chap. XX. BY THE ANCIENTS. 185 



seed of Anemone coronaria, found a plant with one additional 

 petal ; he sowed the seed of this, and by perseverance in the 

 same course obtained several varieties with six or seven rows 

 of petals. The single Scotch rose was doubled, and yielded 

 eight good varieties in nine or ten years. 26 The Canterbury 

 bell (Campanula medium) was doubled by careful selection in 

 four generations. 27 In four years Mr. Buckman, 28 by culture 

 and careful selection, converted parsnips, raised from wild 

 seed, into a new and good variety. By selection during a 

 long course of years, the early maturity of peas has been 

 hastened by between ten and twenty-one days. 29 A more 

 curious case is offered by the beet plant, which since its culti- 

 vation in France, has almost exactly doubled its yield of 

 sugar. This has been effected by the most careful selection ; 

 the specific gravity of the roots being regularly tested, and 

 the best roots saved for the production of seed. 30 



Stlection by Ancient and Semi-civilised People. 



In attributing so much importance to the selection of 

 animals and plants, it may be objected, that methodical selec- 

 tion would not have been carried on during ancient times. 

 A distinguished naturalist considers it as absurd to suppose 

 that semi-civilised people should have practised selection of 

 any kind. Undoubtedly the principle has been systematically 

 acknowledged and followed to a far greater extent within the 

 last hundred years than at any former period, and a corre- 

 sponding result has been gained ; but it would be a greater 

 error to suppose, as we shall immediately see, that its impor- 

 tance was not recognised and acted on during the most ancient 

 times, and by semi-civilised people. I should premise that 

 many facts now to be given only show that care was taken 

 in breeding ; but when this is the case, selection is almost 

 sure to be practised to a certain extent. We shall hereafter 

 be enabled better to judge how far selection, when only occa- 



26 'Transact. Hort. Soc.,' vol. iv. p. vi. p. 96; Mr. Barnes, in 'Gard. 

 285. Chronicle,' 1844, p. 476. 



27 Rev. W. Bromehead, in 'Gard. 3 ° Godroa, 'De l'Espece,' 1859, 

 Chronicle,' 1857, p. 550. ;om. ii. rj. 69; 'Gard. Chronicle,' 



28 'Gard. Chronicle,' 1862, p. 721. . 854, p. 258. 



29 Dr. Anderson, in ' The Bee,' vol. 



