Grouping Varieties^ &c. 223 



Autumn, to the full bold flowers of the present day, so exquisite in colour, so 

 symmetrical in form. In order to trace their descent it is necessary to revert to the 

 species which we must suppose existing in a wild state. We know little of cultiva- 

 tion as pursued in remote ages, but may be justified in presuming that seeds of the 

 Rose were sown as well as those of other trees and plants. It is recorded that the 

 Romans sowed Rose-buds, but we now allude to times anterior to these. Now, 

 supposing the seeds of the wild species to have been gathered and sown, Nature's 

 stores thus opened, she would yield forth her treasures, here as elsewhere, in rich 

 abundance ; the plants raised would produce flowers varying in colour, size, and degree 

 of fulness.* We may suppose the handsomest of these would be cherished most, and 

 the probability is seeds would be saved from such ; hence we might expect to obtain 

 variety as before, and a further advance in beauty. So on from time to time, the 

 improvement taking place so gradually as to fix the attention only of the curious in 

 these matters ; or, if at any period a great advance had been made, it would not have 

 been considered worthy of record in less civilised times, when the constant occurrence 

 of important changes and stirring events kept men in a state of excitement, disquietude, 

 and doubt. Ages might thus roll away and the species be not marvellously changed 

 from their primitive form. But following the stream of time, we reach the period 

 when the raising of plants became a settled occupation ; soon men turned their 

 attention to the improvement of races ; then the sexes of plants were generally 

 acknowledged ; and finally, the effects of artificial fertilisation were made known, 

 and the art practised. The latter was indeed a grand stride in the path of improve- 

 ment ; by its pursuance man stepped in to co-operate with Nature, and the results are 

 strikingly visible. 



Although departing from our subject, yet to render this hypothesis more credible 

 let us glance for a moment at analogous cases. 



Let us turn to the Heartsease, or the Dahlia, whose progress from the species 

 to the present state has been more rapid, and has fallen within the pale of more 

 general observation. It is well known that the beautiful garden varieties of Hearts- 

 ease are descended from the Viola tricolor and V. lutea of botanists, both species 

 indigenous to Britain. They had long been grown in the borders of flower gardens, 

 and the flowers had no doubt become varied in colour and size, but I believe that it 

 is not more than eighty years since Mr Thompson, of Iver, first commenced their 

 cultivation with the expectation of improving them. They were then, perhaps, not 

 very far removed from the species. He collected several kinds, and saved seed from 

 them promiscuously. From the plants thus raised some were larger and handsomer 

 than their parents ; these he reserved, saving seed from such, and by continuing to re- 



* In presuming thus far we are supported by natural occurrences. The flowers of the Dog-Rose in the hedges 

 and woods vary in size and colour, and in the south of Europe some of the wild kinds have double flowers. 



