162 PEACH CULTURE. 



desire there is among novices to multiply varieties, and it 

 is their interest to gratify, if not to stimulate and culti- 

 vate it ; hence they make it a point to keep all the varie- 

 ties they think will be called for ; as well to supply every 

 demand, as to be reckoned growers of large and varied 

 stock. Owing to these two causes, reciprocally acting on 

 und aiding each other, myriads of worthless trees are 

 planted every year. 



There is an auxiliary cause, tending incidentally to the 

 same result, which ought not to be removed, but only re- 

 stricted to proper limits. This "is the discovery or origi- 

 nating of new varieties. A nurseryman discovers, or 

 thinks he has discovered, a new variety of value. His 

 interest often increases his estimate of its worth. He im- 

 mediately sets about propagating it. Every bud in hi* 

 ingenious hands becomes a tree, and every tree, a year 

 after, a hundred, and so on, until he has tens of thousands 

 for sale. These must be disposed of at prices yielding a 

 large profit. They are extensively advertised, and as ex- 

 tensively disseminated. They go into all quarters, and 

 are largely planted. And this increase is generally to be 

 multiplied by the number of nurserymen engaged in the 

 business. And, as we have already jntimated, if confined 

 to proper limits, it is both legitimate and commendable, 

 because every real improvement is a substantial acquisi- 

 tion and valuable addition to the public weal, and should 

 be encouraged and fostered. But the misfortune is, that 

 these new varieties which have cost so much, often turn 

 out to be poor bearers, of inferior quality, or perhaps en- 

 tirely worthless. In some cases, the fault is wholly with 

 the originator who introduced and disseminated them. 

 He may have done so solely for lucre, and totally regard- 

 less of character and honesty ; but this is not generally 

 the case. In most instance?, he honestly believes in the 

 value of his production ; but v n this he is mistaken. He 

 has not sufficiently tested i<". He has not considered the 



