Cultivated Elementary Species 85 



varieties are growing in Asia and have as yet 

 not been observed to occur in America, where 

 the coconut is only of subordinate importance, 

 being one of many useful plants, and not the 

 only one relied on by the natives for their sub- 

 sistence. If therefore, De Candolle's opinion 

 is the right one, the question as to whether the 

 varieties are older or younger than the culti- 

 vated forms of the species, must always remain 

 obscure. But if the proofs of an American 

 origin should be forthcoming, the possibility, 

 and even the probability that the varieties are 

 of later date than the begining of their culture, 

 and have originated while in this condition must 

 at once be granted. An important point in the 

 controversy is the manner in which the coco- 

 nuts were disseminated from shore to shore, 

 from island to island. De Candolle, Darwin 

 and most of the European writers claim that the 

 dispersal was by natural agencies, such as 

 ocean-currents. They point out that the fibrous 

 rind or husk would keep the fruits afloat, and 

 uninjured, for many days or even many weeks, 

 while being carried from one country to another 

 in a manner that would explain their geographic 

 distribution. But the probability of the nuts be- 

 ing thrown upon the strands, and far enough 

 from the shore to find suitable conditions for 

 their germination, is a very small one. To in- 



