ON FRUIT TREES. 229 



or fomething more. After thefe fanguine expectations, I may Procefs of raifi«g 

 reafonably be afKcd, to what does all this amount ? for here crelfiif "them by 

 there is no direct permanency — and why ? The why is very grafting, 

 obvious — becaufe the kernels within the fruit, which are the 

 iQQd of the plants' for forming the next generation of trees, 

 will not produce their like. I allow they may do (o acci- 

 dentally ; but nothing more can be depended on. 



For example, fuppofe we take ten kernels or pips of any 

 apple raifed on an engrafted ftock ; fow them, and they will 

 produce ten different varieties, no two of which will be alike ; 

 nor will either of them clofely referable the fruit from whence 

 the feeds were colledled. The leaves alfo of thofe trees raifed 

 from the fame primogenious or parent flock, will not aSluallj/ 

 be a copy of the leaves of any one of the varieties or family, 

 to which each is conne6led by a vegetable confanguinily. I 

 intentionally ufed the word aSiually, becaufe a refemblance 

 may be found, though not much of that is to be expelled. 



I beg that what has been laft mentioned may not be taken 

 as a difcouragement to attempts for railing new varieties. I 

 was obliged to fpeak very ftrongly, in order to place the cul- 

 ture upon its true foundation. I think it need not be obferved, 

 that there is no acquiring a new variety, but through the means 

 of a feedling plant ; and therefore whoever willies to fucceed 

 mud attempt it that way, or wait till others in their planta- 

 tions may more fortunately produce it. 



In choofing the feeds, that apple is moft likely to produce 

 the cleared and fined plants, whofe kernels are firm, large, 

 and well ripened. The fize of the fruit is not to be regarded; 

 for large apples do not always ripen their fruit well, of rather 

 for cider the fmall fruits are generally preferred for making the 

 ftrongeft, higheft-flavoured liquor. And from what I have 

 been able to colled in the cider-countries, it is there the opi- 

 nion, that an apple fomething above the improved crab pro- 

 mifes the beft fuccefs. This advantage alfo attends the prac- 

 tice : if there are no valuable apples raifed from that attempt, 

 thefe wildings will make excellent ftocks to engraft upon. 



Gentlemen who adually employ themfelves in attempting 

 to acquire new varieties, (liould remember that they ought to 

 feled all the fets, from the bed of apple-quick, whofe appear- 

 ance is in the leaft degree promifing, and plant them together, 

 «l fach a dillance as to allow each to produce its fruit, which 



will 



