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 products。
In the second place； in order that no struggle for the means of
existence between these human agents should weaken the efficiency of
the corporate whole in the battle with the state of nature； he would
make arrangements by which each would be provided with those means；
and would be relieved from the fear of being deprived of them by his
stronger or more cunning fellows。 Laws； sanctioned by the combined
force of the colony； would restrain the self…assertion of each man
within the limits required for the maintenance of peace。 In other
words； the cosmic struggle for existence； as between man and man；
would be rigorously suppressed； and selection； by its means； would be
as completely excluded as it is from the garden。
At the same time； the obstacles to the full development of the
capacities of the colonists by other conditions of the state of nature
than those already mentioned； would be removed by the creation of
artificial conditions of existence of a more favourable character：
Protection against extremes of heat and cold would ＇19＇ be afforded by
houses and clothing； drainage and irrigation works would antagonise
the effects of excessive rain and excessive drought； roads； bridges；
canals； carriages； and ships would overcome the natural obstacles to
locomotion and transport； mechanical engines would supplement the
natural strength of men and of their draught animals； hygienic
precautions would check； or remove； the natural causes of disease。
With every step of this progress in civilization； the colonists would
become more and more independent of the state of nature； more and
more； their lives would be conditioned by a state of art。 In order to
attain his ends； the administrator would have to avail himself of the
courage； industry； and co…operative intelligence of the settlers； and
it is plain that the interest of the community would be best served by
increasing the proportion of persons who possess such qualities； and
diminishing that of persons devoid of them。 In other words； by
selection directed towards an ideal。
Thus the administrator might look to the establishment of an earthly
paradise； a true garden of Eden； in which all things should work
together towards the well…being of the gardeners： within which the
cosmic process； the coarse struggle for existence of the state of
nature； should be abolished； in which that state should be replaced by
a state of art； ＇20＇ where every plant and every lower animal should
be adapted to human wants； and would perish if human supervision and
protection were withdrawn； where men themselves should have been
selected； with a view to their efficiency as organs for the
performance of the functions of a perfected society。 And this ideal
polity would have been brought about； not by gradually adjusting the
men to the conditions around them； but by creating artificial
conditions for them； not by allowing the free play of the struggle for
existence； but by excluding that struggle； and by substituting
selection directed towards the administrator's ideal for the selection
it exercises。
VII。
But the Eden would have its serpent； and a very subtle beast too。 Man
shares with the rest of the living world the mighty instinct of
reproduction and its consequence； the tendency to multiply with great
rapidity。 The better the measures of the administrator achieved their
object； the more completely the destructive agencies of the state of
nature were defeated； the less would that multiplication be checked。
On the other hand； within the colony； the enforcement of peace； which
deprives every man of the power to take away the means of existence
from another； simply because he is the stronger； ＇21＇ would have put
an end to the struggle for existence between the colonists； and the
competition for the commodities of existence； which would alone
remain； is no check upon population。
Thus； as soon as the colonists began to multiply； the administrator
would have to face the t