274 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



ding. A bud, far removed on the parent stock from the 

 root and connected with it through a long trunk, is inocu 

 lated upon a new stock. It now grows with a comparatively 

 limited exposure to interruption or accident. The connec 

 tion with the soil is short and direct. 



In this manner a variety of fruit maybe perpetuated to 

 all generations, if the laws of vegetable health be regarded 

 in the process. Healthy buds, worked upon healthy stocks 

 and planted in wholesome soil, will make healthy trees ; and 

 from these another generation may proceed, and from these 

 another. By a due regard to vegetable physiology, the 

 Newtown Pippin, and the Seckle Pear, may be eaten two 

 thousand years hence, provided, always, that expounders of 

 prophesy will allow us the use of the earth so long for 

 orchard purposes. A disregard of the laws of vegetable 

 physiology in the propagation of varieties, will, on the 

 other hand, rapidly deteriorate the most healthy sort. 

 There is no clock-work in the branches of the tree, which 

 finally runs down past all winding up; there is no fixed 

 quantity of vitality, which a variety at length uses up, as a 

 garrison does its bread. Plants renew themselves and 

 every year have a fresh life, and, in this respect, they dif 

 fer essentially from all forms of animal existence. Any one 

 tree may wear out ; but a variety, never. 



We need not say, therefore, that we dissent from 

 Knight s theory of natural exhaustion and from every sup 

 plement to it put forth since his day. Van Mons theory of 

 variation and the tendency of plants to return toward their 

 original type, is to be regarded as nearer the truth. 



