86 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



way I described will have nothing but long bare stems, perishing, accord- 

 ing to his experience, at the age of fifteen years, through over-exertion 

 in youth. Now I beg to assure your readers that I find no difficulty in 

 originating as many shoots as I please all over the trees down to the 

 base, and could have hundreds more than are wanted, and I can 

 point to the trees in confirmation of what I say. Their present 

 appearance disproves Mr M'Millan's anticipations. He may rest 

 assured -he has got on the wrong side of the hedge with his over- 

 exertion theory. No plant was ever yet killed from being allowed to 

 develop its energies to their fullest extent, root and top, where 

 favoured by a suitable soil and climate ; for it must be borne in mind 

 that my remarks referred to Peaches grown under glass, or in a posi- 

 tion where the wood would be likely to get thoroughly matured to 

 the extremities. Early maturity means early death throughout all 

 nature, and if constant root-pruning and pinching (allowable under 

 some circumstances) is not hurrying life, I don't know what is. A 

 close study of nature never taught any one to use such means to 

 prolong life or vigorous health. I don't know what Mr M'Millan 

 means about adopting unnatural means in Peach-tree culture, and 

 counteracting means to keep the same in order. For further infor- 

 mation on this matter I would refer Mr M'Millan to a sensible lead- 

 ing article in the 'Gardeners' Chronicle' of November 19, on the 

 "Rule of Thumb," having a direct bearing on this subject, and in 

 which some of the oldest Peach-trees in the kingdom, including the 

 Chatsworth trees, are pointed to as examples of the extension system 

 in early youth. Mr M'Millan should see the Chatsworth trees, 

 and when he is in the neighbourhood I shall be pleased to pro- 

 cure him opportunities of seeing the extension system of wall-tree 

 culture carried out on a grand scale, and also a day's recreation in 

 Sherwood Forest, where he may safely be left to commune with the 

 Oaks that were ancient when they sheltered Robin Hood and his bold 

 yeomen, and perhaps he v/ill afterwards tell us how far restriction 

 has promoted their long life and vigour. I will not follow Mr 

 M'Millan in his remarks upon this subject, which he concludes by 

 the remark, that "to be old-fashioned and successful cannot be 

 a crime, but to be new-fashioned and fail must be a crime." 

 A tremendously serious and discouraging aspect of the question, 

 which should put experimenters to their P's and Q's if ever such a 

 law should be put in force ; and which seems simply to mean, that 

 success is a virtue, and failure a crime, or that if we debouch out of 

 the usual beaten track, for the purpose of experiment or improvement, 

 and fail, we should be sent to Botany Bay. J. Simpson. 



■WORTLY, 



