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Yimxs — but we insist that to them as a class we must look as much for 

 endurance and productiveness as to grafting for choice fruits. No one 

 can be more sensible that the writer of the advantages of root-grafting, 

 especially to the nursery-man — of the cheapness, beauty and popularity 

 of that class of trees — and none will be more pleased to have it demon- 

 strated that these advantages are not counter-balanced by any increase of 

 risk. As a nursery-man, we have grown them mostly, and must do so 

 while they are preferred. But there is, nevertheless, a class of stubborn , 

 facts we can explain in no other way than as above. With our present 

 views, between a seedling and a graft of whatever style of the same fruit, 

 every thing else being equal, we should-^refer the former. But the truth 

 of the whole matter summed up, we believe to be this — that there are 

 few seedlings that might not be improved by grafting, and but few, if 

 any, improved varieties that would not be materially improved by work- 

 ing standard height on strong healthy seedlings. Some good fruits there 

 are, which produce the same, or nearly the same, from seed, and these it 

 would be well to increase, if only to save the trouble of grafting. If it 

 be argued that they would not be as productive, it must be because natu- 

 ral progress towards the formation of perfect varieties is at end — which 

 we do not believe. 



In this matter we wish to take no ultra, theoretical ground in favor of 

 any thing like the limited duration of varieties. Of the two we prefer 

 Dr. Turner's theory as set forth in his famous Essay on " The Vitality 

 and Longevity of Trees" — for which we think the Horticultural Avorld 

 largely indebted to the author — as also for many other good things. — 

 Under favorable circumstances we believe a given variety may endure 

 through all time — but hardly, or to little purpose, if subjected to all man- 

 ner of abuses. And so with individuals — if we would have them live out 

 their natural lease, we must be as choice of the body as the mind — of the 

 tree as the fruit. Therefore, as nursery-men, if we would be on the safe 

 side, let us always retain the strongest possible hold upon that inexhausti- 

 ble store-house of "vitality," that chief reliance, that staff of life in 

 propagation — a good, sound, seedling stock ! Nor should we discard 

 grafting, although, like civilization, while it has vastly increased the num- 

 bers and merits of its subjects and possessors, it has, at the same time, 

 unquestionably multiplied their diseases and risks — not from necessity 

 but from neglect on our part — not to vex but to improve — that, as our 

 strength is, so might be our exertions and our achievements. 



