RACES AKJE SAID TO WEAE OUT. 471 



lous leaves with long petioles, and having no disposition to 

 cabbage. I suffered these plants to run to seed at a great 

 distance from my true sprouts, which the extent of my garden 

 allowed me easily to do. The second sowing brought them 

 back a good deal to their true character ; the plants yielded 

 small cabbages regularly at each axil, but not generally fuU or 

 compact, and they did not shoot a second time, as the true sort 

 does. I again suffered these to run to seed, using the same 

 precaution of keeping them by themselves. I sowed the seed, 

 and this time the plants were found to have entirely recovered 

 their original habits, their head, and rich produce." {Hort. 

 Trans., iii. 197.) 



I continue to quote this passage for the sake of exciting 

 attention to the subject, but it stands so entirely alone that it 

 has probably arisen in some mistake. At all events it is now 

 ascertained that the quality of English-saved Brussels Sprouts 

 seed is fully equal to that from Brussels itself, as has been 

 conclusively shown by Mr. Judd, a skilful gardener in Southill 

 Gardens, near Biggleswade. 



It has 'been often asserted that propagation by seed is the 

 only natural process of multiplication, and that by propagation 

 by division the races of plants wear out ; that when a tree or 

 otherperennialplantbecom.es unhealthy from old age, all the 

 offspring previously obtaiued from it by cuttings in aU parts of 

 the world becomes unhealthy too. Is such a doctrine a reason- 

 able inference from known facts ? or is it forced upon us by 

 evidence although not deducible from mere reason ? This 

 is an important question, to a laboured advocacy of which 

 pamphlets and newspapers have been abundantly brought 

 into requisition. The subject has been already adverted to 

 iu these pages; it is now necessary to examine it more 

 carefully. 



The species of plants, like those of animals, appear to be 

 eternal, so far as anything mundane can deserve that name. 

 There is not the smallest reason to suppose that the Olive of 

 our days is different from that of Noah ; the Asa dulcis stamped 

 upon the coins of Gyrene still flourishes around the site of that 

 ancient city ; and the Acorns figured among the sculptures of 



