GRAFTING, OR HORTICULTURAL CONVERSION. 303 



Nature, human and horticultural, improves by 

 growth, and synods, councils, and reformers 

 cannot change this Divine law. I am now satis- 

 fied that my wild young blade of a tree might 

 have been converted into a most fruitful mem- 

 ber of the garden ; but it stood a long time a 

 blasted monument of my blundering zeal, for I 

 let it remain as a warning. 



This subject of grafting, or horticultural con- 

 version, is very suggestive, and has many analo- 

 gies to moral experience. The earlier in life it 

 takes place, the readier the growth and the 

 better the chances, is a truism in both cases. 

 Still, trees quite advanced in life can often be 

 grafted to great advantage, and where space is 

 limited, and trees of necessity must be few, quite 

 a variety can soon be secured by putting in 

 scions of different kinds. For instance, on the 

 south side of an apple-tree, some good early or 

 "harvest" variety might be grafted in the 



