36 



Such statements are refuted by the increasing results of grafting which 

 show the mutual influence and change in individuals, incited by grafting. It 

 IS known that a form of albinoism, i. e. the condition of having white leaves, 

 which we can perhaps call "marbled," is transmissible from scion to stock. 

 Differences in the development of a scion dependant upon its being grafted 

 on dwarf species or wild stock are known. Just as abundant are the 

 examples of changes in size, structure, coloration and taste of the fruit ac- 

 cording to the habitat and climate. Finally it should not be forgotten, that, 

 in extensive cultivation of varieties, we always find some which "do not 

 hold," that is, which from the time of germination show so weak a growth 

 that they soon disappear. This indicates a dying out of very young varieties. 

 In this instance the theory of senility does not hold. 



In connection with the statement that varieties of fruit formerly highly 

 prized no longer thrive and simultaneously run out wherever grown, it is 

 interesting to compare some reports dating from the time when the question 

 of degeneration became one of paramount importance, which concern directly 

 j-ome of the varieties of fruit said to be running out. Hogg stated in 1875, 

 in "the Fruit Manual," that Knight had complained of the "English Golden 

 Pippin" as a variety at that time degenerating because of senility. He says 

 that Mortimer, almost a hundred years before Knight, had spoken similarly 

 of the "Kentish Pippin." Healthy specimens of both varieties, however, are 

 still found in England. The length of life and strength of cultivated varie- 

 ties (says Hogg) may be proved by the "Winter-Pearmain," which may be 

 taken as the oldest English variety of apple, since it was mentioned in manu- 

 scripts as early as about T200. The Borsdorfer apple and the well-known 

 plum "Reine Claude," are very old. According to Bolle\ the "Reine 

 Claude" must have originated in the 15th Century since it was named in 

 honor of Claude, the consort of Louis the XII (1490). 



These fe# examples show that the theory of degenerati(Mi due to sen- 

 i-ity of individual cultivated varieties or due to other causes has been formu- 

 lated because a persistent retrogression has been observed in production and 

 liealthfulness from time to time in many localities, from which observations 

 general conclusions have been drawn. The fact that in many regions culti- 

 vated, well-preserved forms no longer show a thrifty growth and may be 

 replaced by others, is undeniable. But this fact only proves that, since each 

 cultivated form makes definite demands in soil and climate, these demands 

 can not be satisfied further in many places. Degeneration may be spoken of 

 when a cultivated variety runs out universally, even in places where suitable 

 conditions have been retained. However, proof of this is lacking. 



The breaking down of tiie varieties after long cultivation may be due 

 to twofold causes, either the cultural conditions have been changed or the 

 character of the variety has become different. In the first place, the fact that 

 cultural conditions in any one locality are different every year is one to 



1 Quoted in Oberdieck, Pomolog. Monatshefte 1875, p. 240, Bouche and Bolle, 

 Monatsschrift d. Ver. z. Beford d. Gartenb. 1875, p. 484. 



