evidence, that none of these
Cerealia exist, or have existed, truly wild in their present state, but
that all are cultivated varieties of species now growing in great
abundance in S. Europe or W. Asia." On the other hand, Alph. De
Candolle[538] has adduced abundant evidence that common wheat
(_Triticum vulgare_) has been found wild in various parts of Asia,
where it is not likely to have escaped from cultivation; and there is
{313} force in M. Godron's remark, that, supposing these plants to be
escaped seedlings,[539] if they have propagated themselves in a wild
state for several generations, their continued resemblance to
cultivated wheat renders it probable that the latter has retained its
aboriginal character. M. De Candolle insists strongly on the frequent
occurrence in the Austrian dominions of rye and of one kind of oats in
an apparently wild condition. With the exception of these two cases,
which however are rather doubtful, and with the exception of two forms
of wheat and one of barley, which he believes to have been found truly
wild, M. De Candolle does not seem fully satisfied with the other
reported discoveries of the parent-forms of our other cereals. With
respect to oats, according to Mr. Buckman,[540] the wild English _Avena
fatua_ can be converted by a few years of careful cultivation and
selection into forms almost identical with two very distinct cultivated
races. The whole subject of the origin and specific distinctness of the
various cereal plants is a most difficult one; but we shall perhaps be
able to judge a little better after considering the amount of variation
which wheat has undergone.

Metzger describes seven species of wheat, Godron refers to five, and De
Candolle to only four. It is not improbable that, besides the kinds
known in Europe, other strongly characterised forms exist in the more
distant parts of the world; for Loiseleur-Deslongchamps[541] speaks of
three new species or varieties, sent to Europe in 1822 from Chinese
Mongolia, which he considers as being there indigenous. Moorcroft[542]
also speaks of Hasora wheat in Ladakh as very peculiar. If those
botanists are right who believe that at least seven species of wheat
originally existed, then the amount of variation in any important
character which wheat has undergone under cultivation has been sligh