FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



" It appears to me that the practice of grafting, 

 even in the first instance, is in some sort a receding 

 from Nature, and that every subsequent operation 

 is in progressive departure to a final termination 

 in utter degeneracy. 



" If this be so, there seems to be no effectual 

 remedy. But, by recurring to the Seed or Kernel 

 of the Styre, for instance, it might not be im- 

 probable to select varieties nearly approaching 

 in value to the original, or perhaps to equal it. 



"It is well known that the varieties thus pro- 

 duced are almost next to infinite. I would, 

 however, always studiously prefer to propagate 

 from well-known choice sorts, for, astonishing 

 as these varieties are found to be, they almost 

 invariably bear something of the character of the 

 parent. 



" I am well aware that this sort of reasoning 

 completely applies to the propagation of the 

 potato in particular, which, being an annual 

 plant, its degeneracy in regard to prolificacy 

 appears within a very short period from the seed 

 perhaps of 10 or 12 years when the propagation 

 is continued by cuttings from the bulb. 



" I am sorry, my Lord, it is not at present in 

 my power to speak more satisfactorily on this 

 subject. 



" I should certainly experience the highest 

 degree of gratification if on any future occasion 

 any communication of mine might be in the 

 slightest degree acceptable to your Lordship, having 

 the honour to subscribe, my Lord, as your Lord- 

 ship's most respectful and truly obedient servant. 



"INEHEMIAH BARTLEY." 

 256 



