[ »4« 3 



and grateful. It is a benrjolent object, likewife, when we 

 confidcr how eafily the palates of the middling and lower 

 clafles of our countrymen, who cannot afford the luxury of 

 more expenfive fruit, may be gratified by improving the 

 quality of this common and excellent fpecies. 



From thefe confederations, it is hereby requefted, as a 

 fir ft ftep towards general improvement, that thofe gentle* 

 men, who have been particularly curious in the improve- 

 ment of their orchards, or in remarking the diftinctions 

 and excellencies of different forts of apples and pears, 

 would be fo obliging as to communicate their obfervations 

 on the fubje£t. by letter to the fecretary, as foon as they 

 conveniently can after reading this article. They are ear- 

 neftly requefted alfo to mention particularly the flavour and 

 properties of the forts they approve beft, for fummer ufe 

 and for long keeping ; likewife with what number of fcions 

 they could conveniently furnifh the fecretary for diftribu- 

 tion ; firft among the members of the fociety, and fe- 

 condly to others who may wifti to concur in the general 

 plan of improvement.] 



Article XXII. 

 On the Degeneracy of Apples. 

 fin a Letter to the Secretary.} 



SIR, Kcnfmgton^ Dec. 16, 1786. 



>HpHE fubjecl: of the decay of the different forts 

 -*• of Apples, I have maturely conftdered, and 

 compared my ideas with thofe of men in long prac- 

 tice with myfelf, and find it is the general opinion, 



that 



