VAN MONS' THEORY. 73 



raised from it approach a wild state, without, how- 

 ever, ever being able to return to that state." On 

 the other hand, the seeds of a young fruit tree of 

 a good sort, being itself in a state of amelioration, 

 have the least tendency to retrograde, and are the 

 most likely to produce improved sorts. 



Again, there is a limit to perfection in fruits. 

 When this point is reached the next generation will 

 be more likely to produce inferior varieties than 

 will the seeds of varieties that have not reached so 

 high a state of development. 



With these ideas in mind. Van Mons began by 

 gathering seeds from young trees, without much 

 regard to quality, except that they must be in a state 

 of variation ; that is to say, cultivated varieties, and 

 not wild sorts. These he sowed in the nursery and 

 allowed them to grow until of sufficient size to 

 enable him to judge of their character. He then 

 selected those which appeared most promising and 

 allowed them to fruit, planting the seeds of their 

 first specimens, whether of good or inferior quality, 

 providing they were different from their parent. 

 The next generation, treated in the same manner, 

 came into bearing more quickly than the first; and 

 so on, each generation coming into bearing more 

 quickly than the preceding, and producing more 

 perfect fruit. Van Mons found the pear to require 

 the longest time to attain perfection, and he carried 



