576 On the alleged Transformation 



for two years, and the third spring sown with oats and lucerne 

 (Medicago sativa), which were used as sheep pasture, so that 

 none of the oat plants could form a stalk. During the severe 

 spring of the present year, the greater part of the oats were 

 destroyed ; but, when the lucerne had attained a sufficient size 

 to be used as sheep pasture, it was found intermixed with a 

 great many healthy rye plants, just in flower. It appears not 

 necessary for the success of the experiment that the oats 

 should be sown about Midsummer Day ; and it is very natural 

 that the rye plants should be fewer than those of the oats, as 

 all summer corn is, in a great proportion, destroyed during 

 winter. M. de Sehauroth has just communicated his ob- 

 servations to Dr. Hornschuh, Professor of Greifswalde, who 

 has promised to make similar experiments in the botanic 

 garden attached to the College of Agriculture." 



This being the present state of the question, it is, perhaps, 

 not premature to mention it in a scientific journal. The above 

 names appear to warrant the truth of the phenomenon ; and, 

 however doubtful its cause may still be, it appears sufficiently 

 interesting to enquire more closely into it. That oats could 

 be changed into rye would not only be at variance with the 

 acknowledged general principle of specific constancy, but 

 also with the analogy of other annuals placed under similar 

 circumstances; e. g., Reseda odorata, which, by clipping, can 

 be changed into a biennial, or even perennial, but always 

 retains its specific characters. Moreover, if such a treatment 

 could produce a change of form, we should expect to obtain 

 some new variety of the same plant, or even one changed so 

 as to differ sufficiently in its type from all other known species 

 and genera, but not individuals presenting all the genuine 

 characteristics of an existing species of a different genus. All 

 our cultivated species and varieties of corn have, no doubt, 

 originated from some of the wild Graminese, which it may be 

 very difficult to find out; as, in the case of wheat, M. Raspail 

 is not disinclined to believe that it has sprung from iE'gilops 

 ovata, a grass growing wild in Sicily (where the empire of 

 Ceres is said to have originated), and which Professor Latapie 

 of Bordeaux, who travelled with M. de Secondat over Sicily, 

 has cultivated in pots, whereby, after a succession of genera- 

 tions, it became not only much taller, but also changed in its 

 habit and generic character. However, though it appears 

 not impossible that the free operations of man may happen to 

 modify in a constant manner organisations already existing, 

 or even to resuscitate ancient conditions long gone by in the 

 natural course of things, by which fresh spontaneous genera- 

 tions become possible; yet even the widest view of organic 



