No. 33.] : 25 nO aaa ae 
the plant — artificial selection it is called — which dominates over the 
natural forces and furnishes the direction for growth. Hence in the 
cultivated vegetable variation occurs -in the part and the habit upon 
which selection is exercised and wide divergence of plant form occurs, 
with little variation in general in the floral organs which are not pur- 
posely influenced. | 
As the forces of nature have been more constant and longer exercised 
than the forces of art, it follows legitimately, what observation teaches 
as well, that there is a greater constancy and a stronger resistance to 
disturbing forces in specific forms in nature than in the forms pro- 
duced by art. 
_ From this slight statement, which furnishes the ground work of our 
reasoning, it seems to me to be clearly deduced that as in nature the 
dominant motive or intent of plant growth which provides their form, 
furnishes fit material for a natural classification, so in culgivated vege- 
tables the dominant motive for their existence, which provides their 
form, furnishes also a sufficient material for an artificial classification 
In strict accordance with nature’s usages. 
The importance of this idea justifies a repetition, Nature’s methods 
tend to adapt the plant for self-maintenance, and all the plant attri- 
butes are moulded to this end. Man’s methods tend to adapt the plant 
produce for man’s use or caprice, irrespective of the ability for self- 
maintenance. ‘Thus, in wild fruits we have seeding as a normal char- 
acteristic; in many of our best cultivated fruits seeding has ceased to 
be a normal characteristic, as in the banana, the pineapple, and in va- 
rieties of the grape, mulberry, orange, etc. The object in general for 
the plant under nature to attain, is the production of seed in such a 
manner as to secure the preservation of its species; the object of the 
plant under cultivation is to develop those portions which are to be- 
come beneficial to man, as compelled by the forces brought into agency 
by the acts of man. In plants in nature the parts are developed for the 
service of the plant as guards against the constant conditions that its 
situation implies ; in cultivation, man guards the life of the plant from 
these necessitous conditions of the wild state and allows the plant thus 
relieved to respond to applied conditions designed for the furtherance 
of the development of those parts in which man’s wants are interested. 
Under the guidance of nature, form is moulded to the necessities of 
the plant ; under the guidance of natural forces by man, form becomes 
moulded to the necessitiesof man. If these statements are in accord- 
ance with fact, we must recognize that the classification which is natural 
for nature’s wildings, becomes unfitted for like service for plants whose 
development is dominated by man. In-botanical classification and de- 
scription we have a means whereby species and natural varieties can be 
identified, and thus the study of plants can be forwarded. In agricul- 
ture, we at present have no proper classification of agricultural varieties 
whereby varieties can be brought together in accordance with artificial 
types so as to be readily identified. Hence, in botany, we find clearness 
and precision ; in agricultural botany, confusion and uncertainty. 
The differences between agricultural varieties of a species are often 
greater than between natural species within a natural genus; differ- 
ences not only in form and appearance and qualities, but as well in 
habits of growth and prolificacy, and in reactions to the means at the 
[Assem. Doc. No. 33.] 
