SUMMEK MEETING, 1879. 87 



tree, that had produced large russet fine lleslied winter sweet apples. The 

 medinni was grown upon as perfect a tree every way and the next in the same 

 row, but liad produced before grafting a sour apple of irood size, but entirely 

 w^orthless except for cider. 



In making my observations at that time I came to tlie conclusion that the- 

 stock was mainly the cause of difference, and from that time to the present 

 I have repeatedly noticed that changes have been going on destroying to a great 

 extent the orisfinal character of the fruits lierein referred to. 



The large and excellent Greenings referred to were pronounced the par ex- 

 cellence of the winter fruit for the dessert, on account of their rich and mild 

 flavor when at maturity and on account of their superior excellence. Cions 

 were repeatedly taken from the tree to perpetuate its kind, and engrafted in 

 the tops of other bearing trees, in some cases producing other changes as ap- 

 parent. In onQ instance where the same Avas grafted upon a vigorous growing 

 sweet apple tree the acidity of the natural Khode Island Greening was still far- 

 ther removed. 



I might cite other instances in connection with this question, but these in- 

 stances for example serve as a base upon which to build a hypothetical case, and 

 I will come to the conclusions I have by experiments and observations arrived 

 at, namely, that the laws of life are the same in the vegetable as in the animal 

 kingdom. That botanical science, while it -reveals and has brought to 

 light many of the principles of plant life and growth, it fails to teach the 

 method of continuation in its purity of a desirable variety of fruit or vegetable. 

 That scientists have based very much of their belief upon theory, which is 

 inirely mythological in its character, no thoughtful person will deny. For 

 instance, in the question now before us they will tell you the stock is only the 

 medium of support to the cion, that its kind may be further continued in its 

 purity to any extent by grafting, regardless of the nature of the stock. They 

 tell you the grain of the field draws its continued existence from the mother 

 earth, forgetting the logical reasoning, that the cion by transmission may draw 

 health, vigor, and quality, and prolongation of life, or disease and destruction 

 from the stock the same as in the animal kingdom. Life and vigor, disease 

 and death may be engendered by transmission of blood. The situation of the 

 cion and the grain is entirely unlike. While the grain draws its support direct 

 from the earth the cion gains its support by transmission. 



Although scientists have given much to the people for profit, they have led 

 very many estray upon this question in fruit-growing by false theories of plant 

 growth and production, but withal have awakened thought and brought the 

 minds of many to action, and the practical man is beginning to take the mat- 

 ter in hand for experimental investigation to establish the truthfulness or 

 falsity of past theories, thereby developing and bringing into activity the divine 

 principles of creation and improvement innately given to man, his greatest herit- 

 age, from the Father Spirit of the universe. 



Allowing then, my position to be correct, it follows that to bring any kind 

 of fruit to its highest state of perfection, and to so continue it, it becomes nec- 

 essary to know the qualities to be gained, as well as to understand the laws and 

 principles of its maintenance, and none but the true and untiring experiment- 

 alist and worker for effect can expect to develop grand results, and that with 

 knowledge based upon the experience of the past, aided by the theories and 

 experiments of veteran pomologists of the country. I will sum u]^ my conclu- 

 sions by premising that for success in attaining and holding a desired point of 

 excellence in the growth of fruit, the stock must be known to be healthy, hardy 



