NOTES ON PROPAGATING BY CUTTINGS. 



455 



the poorer half of the fruit in seasons when 

 it bears most freely. Quince stocks are 

 rather preferable to pear, for this kind, 



SuRPAssE ViRGALiEU. — I am Surprised that 

 this variety is not more known and culti- 

 vated than it appears to be. It is one of 

 the most uniformly productive kinds, and 

 comes into bearing very young. It is of 

 medium size, buttery, high flavored and 

 excellent. It should be in every good col- 

 lection. 



Paradise d'Automne. — This has been 

 said to resemble the Beurre Bosc, and some 

 have even expressed doubts whether they 

 were not identical. The only resemblance 

 I have been able to find, more than exists 

 between other good varieties, is, that they 

 are both russet fruits, and both of the very 

 first quality. They differ considerably in 

 form ; the Paradise is more sprightly than 

 the Bosc, with a different flavor. The Bosc 

 is but moderately vigorous in its growth, 

 while the Paradise is one of the most thrifty 

 and strong growing of all pears. It promi- 

 ses also to be very productive. 



St. Ghislain. — This deserves a higher 



reputation than it has attained. It has 

 been said to be somewhat variable, and not 

 of uniformly good quality. I apprehend 

 this is owing to its being allowed to hang 

 too long upon the tree. When seasonably 

 gathered and ripened in the house, I have 

 found it to be uniformly fine. It is a beau- 

 ful grower, upright and handsome in form, 

 and a free bearer. But it does not bear so 

 early as many other kinds, and rnay, con- 

 sequently, be expected to endure longer. 



Lawrence. — I have fruited this pear one 

 season, and am much pleased with it. It 

 is destined to be a standard variety, nearl}-, 

 if not quite, equal in qualit}^ to the old St. 

 Germain, and of a much more vigorous 

 character. 



Peach Plum. — This plum has been 

 known in this vicinity some twenty years 

 or more. It is very early, ripening some- 

 times in July, larger than the Washington, 

 and very handsome. It sells readily in 

 Boston market for 75 cents a dozen. The 

 quality is very good. It is not a good 

 bearer. 



Worcester, Mass., March, 1848. 



NOTES ON PROPAGATING BY CUTTINGS. 



BY PROFESSOR LINDLEY. 



What is required when cuttings of plants 

 are to be struck, is a due adjustment of 

 heat, light, and moisture. The first stimu- 

 lates the vital process ; the second causes 

 the formation of matter, out of which roots 

 and leaves are to be organized ; the third is 

 at once a vehicle for the food required by 

 the cutting, and a part of it. The great 

 difficulty is to know how to adjust these 

 agents. 



If the heat is too high, organs are formed 

 faster than they can be solidified ; if too low 

 decay comes on before the reproductive 



forces can be put in action. When light is 

 too powerful, the fluid contents of the cut- 

 ting are lost faster than they can be sup- 

 plied ; when too feeble, there is not a suffi- 

 ciently quick formation of organisable mat- 

 ter to construct the new roots and leaves with. 

 If water is deficient, the cutting is starved ; 

 if over abundant, it rots. 



It is, then, the adjustment of these vary- 

 ing forces to the peculiar nature of the cut- 

 ting to be acted upon, that constitutes the 

 art of propagation. It is this which theory 

 cannot supply, but which depends upon skill 



