182 THE ANGORA GOAT. 
Leicester sheep formed after an ideal pattern, and so 
well adapted to the wants of the sheep-breeders of the 
place and time, that one individual of the breed is let 
for ,£1,000 for one year's use. A skilful florist, by 
selection, creates a double geranium unknown before. 
A rare combination of two superior strains of racehorses 
produces an ' Eclipse.' 
A few instances of what has actually been done by 
selection may here be of service. They are taken from 
the Gardener's Chronicle, and from the Transactions 
of the Horticultural Society. The Kev. W. William- 
son, after sowing the seed of the Anemone Goronaria 
for several years, found a plant bearing flowers with 
one additional petal; by sowing the seed of this and 
continued selection, he obtained several varieties, with 
six or seven rows of petals. The single Scotch rose 
was doubled, and yielded eight good varieties in nine 
or ten years. The Canterbury bell (Campanula 
Medium) was doubled in four generations. The beet- 
root, grown for the production of sugar in France, 
has yielded since its improvement in cultivation almost 
exactly double the percentage of sugar. This improve- 
ment has been obtained by testing the specific gravity 
of the roots, and retaining the heaviest for the pro- 
duction of seed. 
It is recorded in the Poultry Chronicle, that 
Mr. Wicking, a pigeon fancier, in thirteen years, put a 
clean white head on an almond tumbler's body. 
These, and many other triumphs of the selector's art 
prove the potency of skilful selection in obtaining and 
perpetuating any desired quality. 
The numbering of pure stock and registering of their 
pedigree has the advantage, from any point of view, 
