oj Engrafted Fruit Trees. 61 



papers published in the different volumes of the transactions of this So- 

 ciety, and the two volumes of the Orchardist, wherein the whole system 

 is extended, to form a rational culture for the management of standard 

 fruits. 



It should be remembered, that as I am now alluding to the state of 

 actual ])crnianency, fifty years are to be accounted as nothing; and as 

 often as we come to that point we are compelled to resort to our first 

 assertion, " That engrafted fruits are not permanent, they being con- 

 tinued from elongations, and not raised as a repetition of seeds." This 

 is the only rational way as yet introduced of accounting for the loss of 

 the valuable old varieties of fruits. Should a better system he intro- 

 duced, I shall readily adopt it; but this sufficiently answers the purposes 

 of the ])lanter. 



Some years ago, from due investigation and thorough conviction, I 

 propagated this principle, and it was published in the seventeenth vol- 

 ume of the Society's Transactions, in the following words: "All the 

 grafts taken from this first tree, or parent stock, or any of the descend- 

 ants, will for some generations thrive; but when this first stock shall, by 

 mere dint of old age, fall into actual decay, a nihility of vegetation, 

 the descendants, however young, or in Avhatever situation they may be, 

 will gradually decline; and, from that time, it would be imprudent, in 

 point of profit, to attempt propagating that variety from any of them. 

 This is the dogma which must be received. I do not exjiect a direct 

 assent, neither do I wish it, for it should be taken with much reserve; 

 but it is undoubtedly true." These considerations should stimulate us 

 in searching after new varieties, equal, or perhaps superior, to those of 

 which we regret the loss. 



Observe, that from the time the kernel germinates for apple-quick, 

 should the plant be disposed to form a valuable variety, there will ap- 

 pear a regular progressive change or improvement, in the organization 

 of the leaves, until that variety has stood, and grown sufficient to blos- 

 som and come into full bearing; that is, from the state of infancy to 

 maturity; and it is this and other circumstances, by which the inquisi- 

 tive eye is enabled to form the selection among those appearing likely to 

 become valuable fruits. But from that time the new variety, or selected 

 plant, compared Avith all the engraftments which may be taken from it, 

 or any of them, these shall shew a most undeviating sameness among 

 themselves. 



It is readily allowed, that the different varieties of fruits are easily 

 distinguished from each other by many particulars; not only resj)ecting 

 their general fertility, and the form, size, shape and flavor of the fruit, 

 but also the manner of the growth of the tree, the thickness and propor- 

 tion of the twigs, their shooting from their ])arent stem, the form, color, 

 and consistence of the leaf, and many other circumstances, by which 

 the variety can be iilentified; and were it possible to engraft each varie- 

 ty upon the same stock, tliey would still retain their discriminating 

 qualities, with the most undeviating certainty. 



The proper conclusion to be drawn from the statement in the last 

 paragraph, is this — that were any one to put the thought in prac- 

 tice on a full-grown hardy or crab stock, it would produce an excel- 

 lent proof that engrafted fruits are not permanent. For if twenty 

 different varieties Avere placed together, so that each might re- 

 ceive its nurture from the same stem, they would gradually die off 

 in actual succession, according to the age or state of health of 

 the respective variety, at the time the scions were placed in the 

 stock; and a discrinu^iating eye, used to this business, would nearly be 

 able to foretell the order in which each scion would actually decline. — 

 Should it also happen that two or three suckers from the wilding stock 



