14 



He has proceeded in his experiments as far as the 

 ninth generation and has given to the world a large 

 number of new delicious varieties of fruits. 



At the commencement of his experiments he was 

 aware that it would consume much time, but having 

 counted the cost he was prepared to meet it. He 

 met with many difficulties, such as would naturally 

 arise to one entering upon his labors with such a great 

 heart and on so wide a scale. He could not obtain 

 seeds from new varieties, and he was obliged to be^in 

 with seeds already degenerated, and the trees conse- 

 quently bore fruit very tardily, though in his more 

 recent attempts and as the generations increase, he 

 has succeeded in obtaining fruit from the pear at the 

 eighth generation as soon as four years from the 

 planting. 



He may be considered as having estabhshed or 

 made known some laws concerning the processes of 

 nature, which will be of great service to the Horticul- 

 turist of all nations, and render his name worthy per- 

 petual remembrance. 



1st. That so long as plants remain in their natural 

 situations they do not sensibly vary and their seeds 

 always produce the same, but on changing their cH- 

 mate and territory they mostly vary, some more, some 

 less and that where they have departed from their 

 natural state they never return to it again, but are 

 removed more and more therefrom by successive 

 generations and produce often distinct races, more or 

 less durable — and finally, if the varieties are ever 

 carried back to the territory of their ancestors, they 

 will still continue in change and not return to the 

 species from whence they sprang. 



