190 THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS 



Mrs. B. But the process is much more tardy A 

 seedling tree of ten years ' growth will perhaps not be 

 more advanced than one raised by a slip of five years old ; 

 then, when you are provided with a plant which bears 

 remarkably fine fruit, you are sure that if propagated by 

 division it will produce fruit of equally good quality. 

 This mode affords, therefore, the most certain means of 

 improving the species. 



Caroline. Reproduction by seed is the mode adopted 

 by Nature ; that by division the invention of art. 



Mrs. B. The latter is also sometimes employed by 

 Nature, as you will see. 



Reproduction by division tends to diminish the quanti- 

 ty of seed. The vine, which in a state of nature, bears five 

 seeds in each grape, when propagated by this mode, has 

 only two; and some vines loose them entirely, so as to leave 

 no possibility of re-producing the plant but by division. 



Emily. The fruit no doubt profits by this deficiency 

 of seed, as the sustenance which would go to ripen the 

 seed, will be expended in enriching the juices of the grape. 

 I have observed that apples and oranges, which have the 

 fewest pips, are the highest flavored. 



Mrs. B. The remark is applicable to fruits in general. 

 The sugar-cane, propagated by division, wholly loses its 

 seed ; and so do also the succulent plants of the Cape of 

 Good Hope, after having been for a number of years 

 transplanted into Europe. 



Caroline. But I cannot comprehend how a slip can 

 strike root. That root, branch, and every part of a plant 

 should be developed by the germination of a seed, in 

 which it existed in a latent state, is easy to conceive ; but 

 that a root should grow from the extremity of a young 

 shoot seems to favor the idea of casual reproduction, 

 which is not to be met with in Nature. 



Mrs. B. There is reason to suppose that germs, in 

 some respect analogous to those which are contained in 

 the seed, exist in almost every part of a plant, but are not 

 developed unless placed under favorable circumstances ; 



1041. What comparison is made between a seedling tree and one 

 raised by a slip in relation to the time needed for their growthl 1042. 

 How is the quantity of seed effected from re-production from slips! 

 1043. How does Emily say the fruit is effected! 1044. How are 

 sugar-cane and the succulent plants of the Cape of Good Hope affected! 

 1045. What is it reasonable to suppose exists relating to production of 

 roots to the new slip! 



