CHAPTER IV. 



DEGENERACY OF VARIETIES LIMITED AGE, ETC. INFLUENCE OF 



SOILS CLIMATE STOCKS. 



THE theory of degeneracy of varieties at certain periods of exist 

 ence in the parent tree, once had strong supporters ; but we have 

 never been able to reconcile it with any known laws of vegetable life. 

 That all cuttings taken from a seedling plant, no matter how propa- 

 gated, are but the continuation of a single plant, having existence in 

 a healthy state only so long as the original exists in vigor and health, 

 although advocated, and with considerable reason, is a proposition we 

 cannot accede to. Not only is this adduced as correct, but also that 

 no variety can be procured of a healthy origin except grown on the 

 principle of Van Mons, from seed of a wildling. The failure of varie- 

 ties to produce fruit on trees of an advanced age, and without care, 

 of size equal to its first appearance when the trees were young, is 

 often cited as evidence of the " running out " of that variety ; those 

 BO citing seeming not to know that fruit is being produced elsewhere 

 on younger trees, under good treatment, fully equal or surpassing the 

 original. All seedlings are not equally vigorous and healthy, whether 

 grown from a wildling or a cultivated variety ; and some varieties 

 are undoubtedly unhealthy when propagated ; but that they are more 

 so on account of the term of years they have been continued, admits 

 of doubt. That every tree has its natural limit of life, and this natu- 

 ral limit shortened or lengthened as the tree is over stimulated or 

 evenly treated, we do not question ; but that every bud taken from a 

 tree, propagated in various sections of soil and climate, on seedling 

 stocks, or otherwise, must decay at or near the time of the original 

 tree, is a point of belief to which we have not yet arrived. The 

 white Doyenne Pear, the Pennock Apple, the Golden Pippin, have 

 all been cited as evidence to sustain the theory, and yet we have 

 grown all in as perfect state as could be desired by the most critical. 



The influence of soils on both tree and fruit is now well known 

 iiiong horticulturists, and the exhaustion of the soil is too often, 

 mwittingly, made to support the theory of degeneracy of varieties. 

 We have repeatedly remarked that it is requisite for the oichardist 

 to fully understand the nature of soil requisite for each distinct variety. 

 We do not believe a fruit originating in soil abundantly supplied with 

 lime will preserve the same character and quality when grown in one 

 deficient in that material. Analysis has shown us somewhat of this, 



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