New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-09

the great power from which human effort, in all
countries, has derived its mightiest momentum.
1t has built turnpikes and railroads, dug canals,
founded cities, covered rivers viii steamboats, and
the ocean with ships. Millions of human beings
depend upon it for existence, both as growers and
consumers. Danish it from the earth, and it
would be vain TO seek for substitute. Our
teemiDg West would stop suddenly short in its
wonderful career Of greatness. Agriculture cye-
rywhere would pause, scarcity be universal, and
the fact be recognized that the wheat plant is the
corner stone of civilization.
The Oldest history mentions the cultivation Of
wheat But the plant has at no time, nor In any
place. been found growing wild. Neither is the
country Of its origin certainly known. On this
point we obtain light enough from history and
botany to justify the conjecture that its native
place is Persia, and also Iodia. But even on this
point there are different opinions entertained by
able writers. 1t is certainly not indigenous to
America. In 1880, a slave of COrtez found some
grains which had been accidentally mixed with
rice and having carefully planted them aod their
product for several years, he raised stock OF
seed from which all the subsequent wheat crops
of Mexico have been derived. The controversy
touching the origin of wheat has been most aui-
mated and voluminous. In Sicily wild grass is
found called By botanists Egiiops Orata, which
some have cOntended to be the true parent
of wheat. 1t is a hard, rough-lookiDg grass,
which is sometimes gathered in punches and
burnt, and the seeds used for food. Ii is
II ~, Ill. oy,1
are several species Of it. 1t was cOnteDded that
by careful cultivation the Eglops could be trans
formed into wheat. This was as yehemently de-
MED. II was known, however, that under certain
circumstances plants very nearly resembling wheat
had been produced from two perfectly distinct
species Of Egilops, and the presumption obtained
that these were the Wild representatives Of cult
waited grain, and that therefore wheat is nothing
more than Egi,ops modified by the influence of
soil, climate, and superior cultivation.
While this point was yet moOted by tie bota-
nists, an experiment was going on unknown to
them, instituted by one who had never heard OF
their investigations, their discoveries or their dis
agreements. and who knew but little of botanical
science. It's results have had an important infu
euce in determining the question at issue. In
1893 French gardener, Esprit Fabre, found the
Egilops oyata growing wild in the neghborhood
Of his residence at Adge. In the Autumn OF that
year ne sowcd the seed, and in 1893 the plants
grew from 70 u feet high, rpened and yielded
an increase OF only five fold. This increase was
again sowed, and in 1910 the crop bore strik-
ing resemblance TO genuine wheat. IL was sowed
-. I'll Il -. tha urgIuef a
Of ears more cloJely resembling true wheat. Great
and important changes were Observable in the
grains OF this third crop. There were no longer
any barren spikelets, while all Of them were in
every respect like wheat, each one bearing two
TO three perfectly developed grains. These were
sowed, but in 1919 the crop was almO.t entirely
DESTROYED by rlst The few grains saved were
sowed, and in Is43 the plants grew three feet
high. the straw being frmer than before, and less
brittle. The ears were less fragile, aid reSem-
bled wheat exactly. One grain yielded $50 grams
for one sowD, and another 400. Planted again.
and in 1874 all the spkelets we're fertile aud
many of q ON contained three grains. In lci5
all who examined the crop adjudgcd it TO be true
wheat. NJ. Fabrc so regarded it himself, and in
l54j he sowcd the grain in on open field, and
for four succeeding years continued to produce IT
with equal success, the yield being TO times
the seed sown. The stems were straight, solid,
aud were so inches high.
This remarkable result excited tie lyeliestEat-
tentiOn from the learned men OF Europe. 1t con-
irmed the position of one set Of dispntants, who
maintain that by climate, SOIL position, and cul-
ture plants may permanently change their char
acteristics while it covered with confusion some
of the most eminent French botanists. Instead
of according merit 30 the simple gardener who
for twelve years had patiently labOred to solve
great botanical problem, they impeached his We
racity, and accused him of producing mere by
Bird, forgetting in their zeal that If so, it was
one which possessed the rare quality of repro
ducing Itself This series Of experiments is pro-
nounced by Mr.. Klippart of Cincinnati, in his
regent exhaustive work on the wheat plant, TO be
pregnant with the most important consequences.
He thinks that il wheat must be regarded as Of
an allied genera of the Egilops, it proves that
botanists were not sufficiently familiar with the
character If the plants when the classification
was made, and that such identity will reconcile
the traditions, the vague and disconnected ac-
counts of the origin vi wheat, which in ancient
az wei az in modern times was claimed to be
found in Babylonia, Persia and Sicily, as in all
of them the EgilOps is very common.
Wherever the foot Of civilized man has pene-
trated, this symbol OF his power has gone with
him. California, the latest illustration If this