HALLETT'S SELECTION SYSTEM. 83 



mode of treating a scientific subject in every way to be 

 reprehended, as beneath the dignity of any science. More- 

 over, the experiments if trials on so large a scale as Mr. 

 Hallett has instituted should be so called of Mr. Hallett 

 have been so carefully and conscientiously carried out, that 

 his system is entitled to a patient investigation, not with a 

 view to carp and quibble at the difficulties with which his 

 theory may be surrounded, but to endeavour to find out, if 

 possible, how these may be overcome, and what real prac- 

 tical value may be obtained from it. In connection with 

 the stock of the farm, the importance of " pedigree " is 

 everywhere recognised. Mr. Hallett points out that it 

 is even recognised in the case of plants, inasmuch as, if the 

 farmer wants a good mangold, turnip, or the like, he selects 

 the seed from a good parent. But this principle is ignored 

 as a general rule in regard to the cereals, although why it 

 should be so it is difficult to say, inasmuch as the minutest 

 characteristics of a plant of wheat will be reproduced in its 

 descendants ; so much so, that we can not only perpetuate 

 the advantages presented to us in an individual ear, but, 

 by the accumulation of selection, make further advances in 

 any desired direction ; the union of good qualities impart- 

 ing a cumulative force, and their successive renewals and 

 establishments conferring, as in animals, a " fixity of type." 

 But Mr. Hallett points out what, on consideration, will 

 prove to be a most important point, but which, neverthe- 

 less, has been too often ignored namely, that the principle 

 of starting with "accidentally tine ears, and simply keeping 

 the produce unmixed, without any further selection," is a 

 wrong one. This is a very different thing from starting 

 annually with one of a known and a good lineage. Mr. 

 Hallett is of opinion that the formation of what he calls a 

 " race of high-bred " cereals admits of a more rapid and 

 higher development than that of stock, inasmuch as they 

 are more prolific, and give a much wider choice in each re- 

 newed selection. Further, that in place of the delicacy of 

 constitution observable in high-bred animals, a character 

 the very opposite of this is obtained in the selected high- 



