74 



If we may be allowed to reason from 

 analogy, we have every reason to believe 

 that the offspring of these trees will be 

 healthy. For we know, that, in the animal 

 system, whilst the parent labours under 

 certain diseases, the offspring wilFbe in- 

 fected ; but after the parent is completely 

 free from the disease, the offspring will be 

 as free as if the parent had never laboured 

 under such disease. 



If it is true, which I believe cannot be 

 denied, that the roots of fruit trees are more 

 durable than the trunk and branches, we 

 have every reason to conclude, that the 

 shoots, grafted upon the roots, will be a 

 means of preserving these varieties to a 

 later date than any that has hitherto been 

 adopted, so far as I know. And I see np 



