OP FRUIT TREES. 23 



were noticed ; but, since they were first discover- 

 ed, which is about twenty years, there has been, 

 constantly, the same variety in the apples. For 

 the truth oi'what I have asserted, I can appeal to 

 many persons of distinction, and of nice tastes, who 

 have travelled a great distance to view the tree, 

 and taste the fruit ; but to investigate the cause of 

 an effect, so much out of the common course of na- 

 ture, must, I think, be attended with difficulty. 

 The only solution that I can conceive is, that the 

 corcula, or hearts of two seeds, the one from a 

 sour, the other from a sweet apple, might so in- 

 corporate in the ground as to produce but one 

 plant ; or that farina from blossoms of those oppo- 

 site qualities, might pass into and impregnate the 

 same seed. If you should think the account I have 

 given you of this singular apple tree will be ac- 

 ceptable to the American academy, please to com- 

 municate it. 



" I am, &c. PETER WHITNEY." 



The above singular phenomenon may now be 

 solved, since it is ascertained that the flowers may 

 be impregnated by the pollen from other trees, 

 and fruit of various qualities is thus obtained. The 

 tree, described by the reverend gentleman, stood 

 " almost in the middle of a large orchard." Will 

 it be deemed an extravagant conjecture, that this 

 tree had acquired a peculiar attachment, or attrac- 

 tive power, by which this curious kind of fecundity 

 was effected ? 



ENGRAFTED 'FRUITS NOT PERMANENT. 



Mr. Bucknal, an ingenious English writer, has 

 favoured the publick with some highly valuable 

 and interesting observations on the subject of en- 

 grafted fruit trees, of which the following is an ab- 

 itract, from Dom. Ency. Mease's edit. vol. v. p. 192. 



