OF FRUIT TREES. 27 



continue, and make a tree after all the rest are gone. 

 A further consequence would result from the ex- 

 periment. Among such a number of varieties, each 

 of the free growers would starve the delicate, and 

 drive them out of existence only so much the soon- 

 er. It must be observed, that this supposed stem 

 is the foster parent to the twenty scions, and real 

 parent to the suckers ; and those least conversant 

 with engrafted fruits know the advantage acquired 

 by this circumstance. By an experiment, says Mr 

 B., we have had in hand for five years, it will ap- 

 pear, that the roots and stem of a large tree, after 

 the first set of scions are exhausted or worn out, 

 may carry another set for many years ; and we sus- 

 pect a third set, provided engrafting is properly 

 done, and the engrafter chooses a new variety. To 

 express the concluding sentiments of Mr. B. in a few 

 words, he maintains, that the different varieties of 

 the apple will, after a certain time, decline and ac- 

 tually die away, and each variety, or all of the same 

 stem* or family, will lose their existence in vegeta- 

 tion ; yet, after the debility of age has actually taken 

 possession of any variety, and the vital principle is 

 nearly exhausted, a superiourcare and warmth will 

 still keep the variety in existence some time longer. 

 This, he observes, is an abstruse subject, very little 

 understood, and requiring at first some degree of 

 faith, observation, and perseverance. Mr. B. is 

 fully convinced that we have the power of multi- 

 plying a single variety, to whatever number we 

 please ; and although these trees may amount to 

 millions, yet, on the death of the primogeneous or 

 parent stock, merely from old agje or nihility of 

 growth, each individual shall decline, in whatever 

 country they may be, or however endued with youth 

 and health. Nothing sublunary, which possesses 

 either animal or vegetable life, is exempt from age 

 and death. To exemplify this point more intelligi- 

 bly, let it be supposed that the Baldwin apple is a 



