No doubt the strawberry had always varied since it was cultivated, but the slight varieties had been neglected.

As soon, however, as gardeners picked out individual plants with slightly larger, earlier, or better fruit, and raised seedlings from them, and again picked out the best seedlings and bred from them, then (with some aid by crossing distinct species) those many admirable varieties of the strawberry were raised which have appeared during the last half-century.

With animals, facility in preventing crosses is an important element in the formation of new races--at least, in a country which is already stocked with other races.

In this respect enclosure of the land plays a part.