26 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 



nor will either of them closely resemble the fruit from whence 

 the seeds were collected/ The leaves also of those trees, raised 

 from the same pri mo-genus or parent stock, will not actually 

 be a copy of the leaves of any one of the varieties or family 

 to which each is connected by a vegetable consanguinity. I 

 intentionally used the word actually^ because a resemblance 

 may be found, though not much of that is to be expected. 



" I beg that what has been last mentioned may not be taken 

 as a discouragement to attempts for raising new varieties. I 

 was obliged to speak very strongly, in order to place the cul- 

 ture upon its true foundation. I think it need not be ob- 

 served, that there is no acquiring a new variety hut through 

 the means of a seedling plant ; and, therefore, whoever wishes 

 to succeed must attempt that way, or wait till others in their 

 plantations may more fortunately produce it. 



"In choosing seeds, that apple is most likely to produce 

 the clearest and finest plants whose kernels are firm, large 

 and well ripened. The size of the fruit is not to be regarded; 

 for large apples do not always ripen their fruit well, or rather 

 for cider, the small fruits are generally preferred for making 

 the strongest, highest-flavored liquor. And from what I have 

 been able to collect in the cider-countries, it is there the opin- 

 ion that an apple something above the improved crab promises 

 the best success This advantage also attends the prac- 

 tice: if there are no valuable apples raised from that attempt, 

 these wildings will make excellent stocks to graft upon. 



"Gentlemen who actually employ themselves in attempting 

 to acquire new varieties, should remember that they ought to 

 select all the sets, from the bed of apple-quick, whose 

 appearance is in the least degree promising, and plant 

 them together; at such a distance as to allow each to 

 produce its fruit, which will happen in a very few years. 

 My friend, Mr. Knight, who undoubtedly is the first 

 in actual exertions for procuring these happily acquired 

 new varieties, has had two plants bear fruit at six years and 

 one at five. (In Virginia, apple trees will bear considerable 

 crops at that age.) The cider districts have off'ered several 

 premiums for securing new varieties, and some with good effect. 

 Premiums have been given both to Mr. Knight and Mr. Alban. 



