OF BUDS. 139 



Vijrus MaluSy Engl. But. f. 179; and I 

 connot hut assent to i\Ir. Knight's opinion, 

 that each inchvidual thus propagated has only 

 a deterniin-ite existence, in some cases longer, 

 in others shorter ; from uhich cause nrany 

 valuable varieties of apples and pears, known 

 in former times, are now worn out, and others 

 are dwindling av/ay before our eyes. New- 

 varieties of Cape Geraniums, raised from seed 

 in our 2:reenhouses, are of still shorter dura- 

 tion, and can be preserved by cuttings for a 

 few successive seasons only ; yet several of 

 these stand in our botanic w orks, with all the 

 importance of reed species. Gardeners know 

 liow many of the most hardy perennial herbs 

 rec|uire to be frequently renewed from seed 

 to exist in lull vigour ; and though others ap- 

 pear, to our confined experience, unlimited in 

 that respect, we have many reasons to be- 

 lieve they are not so. Propagation by seeds 

 is therefore the only true reproduction of 

 plants, by which each species rem.ains di- 

 stinct, and all variations are effaced ; for 

 thou ah new varieties may arise amono; a 

 great number of seedling plants, it does not 

 yppcar that such varieties owe their pecu- 



