88 Transactions of the London Horticultural Society. 



ingly slow, comparatively with [the decay of the powers of life 

 in] the bearing Jbranches. Scions [shoots] obtained from the 

 roots of pear trees of 200 years old afford grafts which grow 

 with great vigour, and which, in many cases, are covered with 

 thorns, like young seedling stocks ; whilst other grafts, taken 

 at the same time from the extremities of the branches of such 

 trees, present a totally different character, and a very slow 

 and unhealthy growth. I do not, however, conceive that any 

 scion [shoots] which thus springs from the root of an old ti'ee 

 possesses all the powers of a young seedling tree; but it cer- 

 tainly possesses no inconsiderable portion of such powers ; 

 and I have proved such scions to be capable of affording 

 healthy trees of a considerable size. 



" If grafts or buds were taken from such scions [shoots i, 

 on their first emission [from the roots], much time would 

 elapse before any blossom would be produced ; but, if buds 

 were not taken from such scions [shoots] till the branches at- 

 tained the age of puberty, no loss of time whatever would 

 subsequently occur. 



" The branches of the plum tree, in the experiment above 

 mentioned, emitted roots just at the period when they had 

 attained the age of puberty ; and I do not doubt but that 

 scions [shoots] from the roots of these will spring from the 

 soil, in full possession of all the powers attached to the branches 

 from which they derived their existence. My own experience 

 leads me to think that trees of the pear, the apple, and the 

 plum may be better raised by layers and cuttings of the 

 roots, than by the methods usually practised, and at less 

 expense." 



Mr. Knight remarks, in conclusion, that the permanent 

 preservation of valuable and new varieties of fruits, of which 

 the Society's garden contains many, in their pristine and pre- 

 sent state of health and vigour, appears to be an object of 

 great importance; as does the retardation of the decay of 

 many varieties, " such as the Cornish Gilliflower apple, 

 which, in my estimation, is and always was without a rival in 

 the climate of England." 



23. On the Propagation of the Balsam {Impatiens Balsamhia L.) 

 % Cuttings. By Mr.G. John Towers, CM.H.S. Read Oct. 18. 

 1831. 



Mr. Towers had raised balsam plants from seeds received 

 from Madras, which grew sufficiently ; " but scarcely any of 

 them exhibited, throughout the summer, the slightest appear- 

 ance of producing flowers. Finding this to be the case," he 

 says, " I took a small cutting at the extremity of one of the 



