y systematic selection
and culture. The flowers of the Heartsease have been similarly increased in
size and regularity of outline. With the Cineraria, Mr. Glenny[465] "was
bold enough, when the flowers were ragged and starry and ill defined in
colour, to fix a standard which was then considered outrageously high and
impossible, and which, even if reached, it was said, we should be no
gainers by, as it would spoil the beauty of the flowers. He maintained that
he was right; and the event has proved it to be so." The doubling of
flowers has several times been effected by careful selection: the Rev. W.
Williamson,[466] after sowing during several years seed of _Anemone
coronaria_, found a plant with one additional petal; he sowed the seed of
this, and by perseverance in the same course 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.[467] The Canterbury bell
(_Campanula medium_) was doubled by careful selection in four
generations.[468] In four years Mr. Buckman,[469] by culture and {201}
careful selection, converted parsnips, raised from wild seed, into a new
and good variety. By selection during a long course of years, the early
maturity of peas has been hastened from ten to twenty-one days.[470] A more
curious case is offered by the beet-plant, which, since its cultivation in
France, has almost exactly doubled its yield of sugar. This has been
effected by the most careful selection; the specific gravity of the roots
being regularly tested, and the best roots saved for the production of
seed.[471]

_Selection by Ancient and Semi-civilised People._

In attributing so much importance to the selection of animals and plants,
it may be objected that methodical selection would not have been carried on
during ancient times. A distinguished naturalist considers it as absurd to
suppose that semi-civilised people should have practised selection of any
kind. Undoubtedly the principle has been systematically acknowledged and
followed to a far greater extent within the last hundred years than at any
former period, and a corresponding result has been gained; but it would be
a great error to suppose, as we shall immediately see, that its importance
was not recognised and acted on during the most ancient times, and by
semi-civilised people. I should premise that many facts now to be given
only show that care was taken in breeding; but w