696 Canker in young Fruit Trees. 



saw pots of vines with ripe fruit on them. I was informed the 

 eyes had been taken from the parent vines only fourteen or 

 fifteen months previously. I saw others in every interme- 

 diate stage of growth between them and the pots in which 

 the eyes had just been inserted ; and I understood Mr. Pillans 

 to say that he hoped to produce grapes for the table, in suc- 

 cession, throughout the year, on this plan. I believe that this 

 process has not been communicated to any one. I anticipate 

 your opinion, that all who claim to be citizens in the republic 

 of science are bound to contribute their individual discoveries 

 for the general weal, in exchange for the advantages they reap 

 from a similar devotion on the part of their brother citizens. 

 I quite approve this doctrine, as applied to a certain class ; but, 

 I confess, I think that persons in the situation of Mr. Pillans 

 may fairly look for a more substantial compensation for the 

 communication of so valuable a discovery as this, than the 

 occupation of a niche in the temple of Fame ; though I would 

 not recommend an address from the House of Commons to His 

 Majesty ; which was, for aught that appears to the contrary, 

 gravely presented in a certain case of a similar kind. I think 

 the Horticultural Society should encourage the communica- 

 tion of important discoveries, by professional gardeners, by 

 substantial rewards. Every department of the gardens at 

 Woodchester bears ample testimony to the great skill, atten- 

 tion, and zeal of Mr. Pillans, who is evidently a very meri- 

 torious servant. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — Charles Laurence. 

 Cirencester, Oct. 15. 1SS2. 



Canker on young Fruit Trees. — Three years ago, I was 

 much annoyed at finding several young pear trees one mass 

 of disease from top to bottom ; which, I conceive, must have 

 been infected when sent to me, three years before, as they 

 were planted in the best of soil. On referring to a work on 

 gardening, I found some palliatives recommended ; but it was 

 observed that the most effective plan was, to take up the tree 

 and plant a fresh one. I did not much like throwing away 

 three years' growth of roots, which, I knew, had been extend- 

 ing themselves under every advantage of soil ; and I thought 

 of cutting off the heads to within 1 ft. of the ground, and 

 inserting healthy grafts from other varieties. I was told this 

 could be of no avail, inasmuch as the sap, passing through 

 the diseased trunk, would infect the grafts. On consideration, 

 this did not appear to me to be a necessary consequence, as 

 the qualities of the chyle (if I may so term it) secreted from 

 the descending sap, to which the future tree would be indebted 

 for its growth, would depend much more on the scion thap 

 the stock. I determined, at all events, to try the experiment, 



