50 AMERICAN POMOLOGY. 



observed a great quantity of the Golden Pippin in Covent 

 Garden Market, which were in perfect condition, and was 

 induced to make inquiries respecting the health of the 

 variety, which resulted in satisfactory replies from all 

 quarters, that the trees were recovering from disease, 

 which he thought had been induced by a succession of un- 

 propitious seasons. He cites Mr. Ronald's opinion, that 

 there was then no fear of losing this variety ; and Mr. 

 Lee, who thought that the apparent decay of some trees 

 was owing to unfavorable seasons. Mr. Harrison in- 

 formed him that this variety was very successfully grown 

 on the mountains of the island of Madeira, at an elevation 

 of 3000 feet, and produced abundantly. Also that the va- 

 riety was quite satisfactory in many parts of England, and 

 concludes that the Golden Pippin only requires the most 

 genial situation, to render it as prolific as formerly." 



It is quite probable, as Phillips suggests, that Mr. 

 Knight had watched the trees during unfavorable seasons 

 which prevailed at that period, and as he found the disease 

 increase, he referred it to the old age of the variety, and 

 based his theory to that effect upon partial data. 



Mr. Knight's views, though they have taken a strong 

 hold upon the popular mind, have not been confirmed by 

 physiologists. For though the seed would appear to be 

 the proper source whence to derive our new plants, and 

 certainly our new varieties of fruits, many plants have, for 

 an indefinite period, been propagated by layers, shoots or 

 scions, buds, tubers, etc., and that the variety has thus 

 been extended much beyond the period of the life of the 

 parent or original seedling. Strawberries are propagated 

 and multiplied by the runners, potatoes by tubers, the 



