Bij M, Vilmorin, F. M. H. S. 



355 



generation in a very sensible degree, and in an almost exact relation 

 with the enlargement of the root. In the present day the wild 

 carrot has, in this respect, arrived at the same point as the old va- 

 rieties ; it no longer runs, or at least not more so than the latter. 

 It is thus become truly biennial from being annual, which it was 

 at starting. This effect is very remarkable, and we may rea- 

 sonably conclude from thence, that naturally the carrot is in truth 

 annual, and that cultivation alone has rendered it biennial. 



At the point at which it has now arrived, the wild carrot is almost 

 confounded with the garden carrot ; nevertheless, it still retains 

 some characters, which will perhaps be afterwards effaced, but 

 which for this very reason it may be well to notice. Thus, it h 

 not yet completely tap-rooted ; a certain number of roots are to be 

 found fork-shaped, and fibrous ; and among the good and fleshy 

 ones, several have a coarse, and as it were, rugged appearance on 

 the surface. There is also something particular in the habit and 

 aspect of the plant. When the individuals are far apart and can 

 extend themselves freely, the petioles and the leaves lie down and 

 display themselves almost horizontally upon the soil ; the foliage 

 is of a harsher green, and darker than in most of the old varieties. 

 In the first year the root penetrated deeply into the earth, it was 

 necessary to search one and sometimes two inches in order to dis- 

 cover the neck. This disposition is still observable, but it seems to 

 me to diminish in proportion as the root increases in size and dimi- 

 nishes in length. The flesh is more compact, rather firmer, and of 

 greater consistence than that of the garden carrots ; it appears to 

 contain less water of vegetation ; it is however as easily cooked, is 

 very sweet and of excellent quality. 



From the long details into which I have entered upon this sort 

 of creation, it must not be concluded that I consider it as a real 

 victory ; we already possess the improved carrot, under numerous 

 forms and shades : the analogy is too great for a vegetable novelty 

 to be perceived. It is nevertheless not impossible that from this 



