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strictly speaking； part and parcel of the cosmic process。 And no one
could more readily agree to that proposition than I。 In fact； I do not
know that any one has taken more pains than I have； during the last
thirty years； to insist upon the doctrine； so much reviled in the
early part of that period； that man； physical； intellectual； and
moral； is as much a part of nature； as purely a product of the cosmic
process； as the humblest weed。*
* See 〃Man's Place in Nature；〃 Collected Essays； vol。 vii。； and
〃On the Struggle for Existence in Human Society〃 （1888）； below。
But if； following up this admission； it is urged ＇12＇ that； such being
the case； the cosmic process cannot be in antagonism with that
horticultural process which is part of itselfI can only reply； that
if the conclusion that the two are； antagonistic is logically absurd；
I am sorry for logic； because； as we have seen； the fact is so。 The
garden is in the same position as every other work of man's art； it is
a result of the cosmic process working through and by human energy and
intelligence； and； as is the case with every other artificial thing
set up in the state of nature； the influences of the latter； are
constantly tending to break it down and destroy it。 No doubt； the
Forth bridge and an ironclad in the offing； are； in ultimate resort；
products of the cosmic process； as much so as the river which flows
under the one； or the seawater on which the other floats。
Nevertheless； every breeze strains the bridge a little； every tide
does something to weaken its foundations； every change of temperature
alters the adjustment of its parts； produces friction and consequent
wear and tear。 From time to time； the bridge must be repaired； just
as the ironclad must go into dock； simply because nature is always
tending to reclaim that which her child； man； has borrowed from her
and has arranged in combinations which are not those favoured by the
general cosmic process。
Thus； it is not only true that the cosmic energy； working through man
upon a portion of ＇13＇ the plant world； opposes the same energy as it
works through the state of nature； but a similar antagonism is
everywhere manifest between the artificial and the natural。 Even in
the state of nature itself； what is the struggle for existence but the
antagonism of the results of the cosmic process in the region of life；
one to another？*
* Or to put the case still more simply。 When a man lays hold of
the two ends of a piece of string and pulls them； with intent
to break it； the right arm is certainly exerted in antagonism
to the left arm； yet both arms derive their energy from the
same original source。
IV。
Not only is the state of nature hostile to the state of art of the
garden； but the principle of the horticultural process； by which the
latter is created and maintained； is antithetic to that of the cosmic
process。 The characteristic feature of the latter is the intense and
unceasing competition of the struggle for existence。 The
characteristic of the former is the elimination of that struggle； by
the removal of the conditions which give rise to it。 The tendency of
the cosmic process is to bring about the adjustment of the forms of
plant life to the current conditions； the tendency of the
horticultural process is the adjustment of the conditions to the needs
of the forms of plant life which the gardener desires to raise。
The cosmic process uses unrestricted multiplication ＇14＇ as the means
whereby hundreds compete for the place and nourishment adequate for
one； it employs frost and drought to cut off the weak and unfortunate；
to survive； there is need not only of strength； but of flexibility and
of good fortune。
The gardener； on the other hand； restricts multiplication； provides
that each plant shall have sufficient space and nourishment； protects
from frost and drought； and； in every other way； attempts to modify
the conditions； in such a manner as to bring about the survival of
those forms which most nearly approach the standard of the useful or
the beautiful； which he has in his mind。
If the fruits and the tubers； the foliage and the flowers thus
obtained； reach； or sufficiently approach； that ideal； there is no
reason why the status quo attained should not be indefinitely
prolonged。 So long as the state of nature remains approximately the
same； so long will the energy and intelligence which created the
garden suffice to maintain it。 However； the limits within which this
mastery of man over nature can be maintained are narrow。 If the
conditions of the cretaceous epoch returned； I fear the most skilful
of gardeners would have to give up the cultivation of apples and
gooseberries； while； if those of the glacial period once again
obtained； open asparagus beds would be superfluous； and the training
of fruit ＇15＇ trees against the most favourable of mouth walls； a
waste of time and trouble。
But it is extremely important to note that； the state of nature
remaining the same； if the produce does not satisfy the gardener； it
may be made to approach his ideal more closely。 Although the struggle
for existence may be at end； the possibility of progress remains。 In
discussions on these topics； it is often strangely forgotten that the
essential conditions of the modification； or evolution； of living
things are variation and hereditary transmission。 Selection is the
means by which certain variations are favoured and their progeny
preserved。 But the struggle for existence is only one of the means by
which selection may be effected。 The endless varieties of cultivated
flowers； fruits； roots； tubers； and bulbs are not products of
selection by means of the struggle for existence； but of direct
selection； in view of an ideal of utility or beauty。 Amidst a multitude
of plants； occupying the same station and subjected to the same
conditions； in the garden； varieties arise。 The varieties tending in a
given direction are preserved； and the rest are destroyed。 And the
same process takes place among the varieties until； for example； the
wild kale becomes a cabbage； or the wild Viola tricolor； a prize
pansy。
＇16＇
V。
The process of colonisation presents analogies to the formation of a
garden which are highly instructive。 Suppose a shipload of English
colonists sent to form a settlement； in such a country as Tasmania was
in the middle of the last century。 On landing； they find themselves in
the midst of a state of nature； widely different from that left behind
them in everything but the most general physical conditions。 The
common plants； the common birds and quadrupeds； are as totally
distinct as the men from anything to be seen on the side of the globe
from which they come。 The colonists proceed to put an end to this
state of things over as large an area as they desire to occupy。 They
clear away the native vegetation； extirpate or drive out the animal
population； so far as may be necessary； and take measures to defend
themselves from the re…immigration of either。 In their place； they
introduce English grain and fruit trees； English dogs； sheep； cattle；
horses； and English men； in fact； they set up a new Flora and Fauna and
a new variety of mankind； within the old state of nature。 Their farms
and pastures represent a garden on a great scale； and themselves the
gardeners who have to keep it up； in watchful antagonism to the old
regime。 Considered as a whole； the colony is a composite unit
introduced into the old state of nature； and； ＇17＇ thenceforward； a
competitor in the struggle for existence； to conquer or be vanquished。
Under the conditions supposed； there is no doubt of the result； if the
work of the colonists be carried out energetically and with
intelligent combination of all their forces。 On the other hand； if
they are slothful； stupid； and careless； or if they waste their
energies in contests with one another； the chances are that the old
state of nature will have the best of it。 The native savage will
destroy the immigrant civilized man； of the English animals and plants
some will be extirpated by their indigenous rivals； others will pass
into the feral state and themselves become components of the state of
nature。 In a few decades； all other traces of the settlement will have
vanished。
VI。
Let us now imagine that some administrative authority； as far superior
in power and intelligence to men； as men are to their cattle； is set
over the colony； charged to deal with its human elements in such a
manner as to assure the victory of the settlement over the
antagonistic influences of the state of nature in which it is set
down。 He would proceed in the same fashion as that in which the
gardener dealt with his garden。 In the first place； he would； as far
as possible； put a ＇18＇ stop to the influence of external competition
by thoroughly extirpating and excluding the native rivals； whether
men； beasts； or plants。 And our administrator would select his human
agents； with a view to his ideal of a successful colony； just as the
gardener selects his plants with a view to his ideal of useful or
beautiful p