Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
A G R &c I'll 7 U RAL
THE ORIGIN OF E

1t Is a fact not generally known, that the
origin of wheat and other cereals is involved
in obscurity, for the old notion that wheat
is indigenous in Central Asia. that starting
point OF the human race, has been exploded
by the researches of modern hotanists -
History informs us when our forefathers first
began to cultivate the carrot. gooseberrv
c%urrant, asparagus, beet.root and strawber-
ry but is silent as to when wheat. rye. oats
peas, maize, cucumbers. and melons we're
known only as indigenous plants. Nowhere
do the cereals exist as native. nowhere have
they shown a tendency to run wild. If
preserved by human labor they would arpa-
rently perish altogether.
lna late number ofthe Edinburgh Review.
an able paper is devoted to discussing the or,
Ign OF the cereals, especially of wheat. The
WRITER states that there are two theories up-
on TINS SUBJECT. One considers races of
plants TO be lmmutable, and holds, therefore,
Una! wheat existed once, nay, may still exist,
anonymously somewhere. The other main
SulnS that the cereal, as at present known,
mas oeen developed by cultivation. This is
tne opinion held by the writer in the review,
VINO even speclhes the particular plant from
w.licn wheat has originated, as a grass grow
ing wild on the shores of the Mediterranean.
and known to botanists by the name of ggil-
ops.
In continuation of this hypothesis may be
auduced the fact, that, wherever the early
history OF the cultivation of a species Is
known, 1t IS found that man has first annlied
20 his use, a plant growing wild about him.
lie discovers some herb, for examnle. whose
taste ne likes; and in order to have it more
plentltully begins to cultivate it the cult.
Vateo plant improves upon the original one +;
ne soWs seed from the best specimens and
ut last a berry is obtained so superior TO the
one he hrst found growing wild, that it could
not be possible to trace it's origin. if the pro-
cess had not taken place under his W OBJ.
seryatlon. Analogous to this, it is fair to
presume, has been the origin of wheat. In
TACT, a French Botanist, reasoning in this
way and observing many striking points of
resem Dlance between the @gilops and wheat,
undertook to develop the latter from the
former and by saving, year after year, the
SEED from such plants as appeared to ap-
pToacn nearer to its object, actually succeed
ed IN his object. The plant, thus obtained,
stlli continues to be cultivated, both by him
ana by others, and to yield real bona tide
wheat.
,aIhe opponents Of the development theory
1890 m"AAIdlu IHdG the plant on which
tnls experimentalist worked, was an acci.
dental hybrid or cross between the egilops
ana the wheat growing in adjacent fields
IN favor OF this view, they adduce the fact
tnat'.by such a crossing artifcially conduct
ed' similar results have been produced. On
the other hand, natural hybrids between
grasses are as yet unknown to botanists.-
Moreover, when different sorts of wheat are
grown together they never cross. A still
more conclusive proofs the fact that hybrids
are rarely maintained beyond the second gen.
GRAFTON. without an infusion of new yigor
from the parent stock in which case, a Grad.
uai assimilation to tn latter occurs. Hence.
IN the experiment which we have quoted had
originated IN a natural cross between the mo.
ilops ana wheat, the hybrid would either
have persisted after a year or two, or have
returned to its original type.
TVS probable, therefore, that wheat never
existed wild, but has been developed bv cnI
ovation from a rude plant. The Edinburgh
reviewer, after reviewing the question in ey.
cry aspect, comes to this opinion at last and
says nothing can shake his conviction nn1ass
wheat should be found really growing T;Id
Ledger. ""@"eEp"'0