THE SELECTIVE EYE.
As many of these advances in the making of fruit and flower are due to selection, founded on shrewd observation, as on cross-fertilization. The late Mr. Milne, a good agri- cultural botanist, while walking in Scotland saw one single plant of grass (of the Cocksfoot species) which- had certain peculiarities of growth. Since then, largely as the result of his transplantation of this single plant, a new science of grasses has arisen. The varieties or strains of this and that grass, especially of Cocksfoot and rye, have come to be regarded as not less important than the species, and are adding much to the richness of pasture. Again, we have discovered lately that a particular shoot of a tree may develop a particular character. Just as every Lombardy poplar has sprung from one freak of the black _poplar accidentally discovered, so every " red Cox " has come from one twig of one Cox in a Herefordshire orchard. This queer thing known as " bud variation " is well worth looking for by any and every gardener, amateur or professional.
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