264 On the Botanical Origin of Wheat. 



though, on the contrary, we Lave records of similar forms of 

 grass being under cultivation for four years, which, though 

 they produce fertile seeds, never had the least apparent 

 inclination to "become wheat. 



M. Fabre, of Agde, has conducted some most interesting 

 experiments in the production of wheat from JEgilo±is ovata, 

 the results of which were a taller growth of the plants gene- 

 rally, a greater development and enlargement, as well as a 

 more regular growth of the ears, and a consequent enlarge- 

 ment of the seeds ; indeed, we have seen some seeds of 

 JEgilojps ovata that would even pass muster for the immature 

 seeds of a poor description of wheat. The chaff- scales also 

 under cultivation modify their character to that of wheat, and 

 the number of awns are likewise lessened. Thus M. Fabre 

 has endeavoured to show that JEgilojps triticoides is produced 

 from JEgilops ovata, and in a further period of about six years 

 that wheat can be produced by cultivation from JEgilops triti- 

 coides. As a still further proof of the accuracy of these experi- 

 ments, we may quote the following account of a similar trial 

 made and recorded by Professor Buckman, then of the Royal 

 Agricultural College, Cirencester : — 



" In 1854, we planted a plot with seed of JEgilops ovata, 

 from which was gathered seed for a second crop in 1855, 

 leaving the rest of the first plot to seed itself, which it did, and 

 came up spontaneously. This plot has since continued to bring- 

 forth its annual crop in a wild state in which the spikes are 

 short, and so brittle that they fall to pieces below each spikelet 

 the moment the seed is at all ripe. The produce of the 1855 

 crop has, in the same manner, been cultivated year by year in 

 different parts of the experimental garden of the Royal Agri- 

 cultural College, and our crop for 1860 had many specimens 

 upwards of two feet high, and with spikes of flowers containing 

 as many as twelve spikelets. Our conclusions then are, that 

 with us the JEgiloys is steadily advancing, and we fully expect 

 in three or four years to arrive at a true variety of cereal 

 wheat. What, too, is confirmatory of this matter is, that the 

 bruised foliage of the wild grass and the cultivated wheat 

 emits the same peculiar odour; and, besides, the JEgilojps is 

 subject to attacks of the same species of parasites. M 



These parasites are small microscopic fungi, known to the 

 agriculturist as rust, mildew, etc., or more commonly spoken 

 of as blight. " These," Professor Buckman continues to say, 

 ic seem to be the effects of civilization ; and it is not a little 

 remarkable that, in this respect, this grass should be so much 

 like our field crops, which were particularly liable to blight in 

 the straw and foliage during I860." 



2Egilops triticoides has by many botanists been referred to 



