VAN MONS' THEORY. 75 



it out. The most characteristic feature of the 

 theory; namely, that young trees produce seedlings 

 which are more variable and of higher quality than 

 old trees of the same varieties, has never been 

 generally accepted by horticulturists, and probably 

 contains but little truth. The other point, that 

 fruits have a definite limit of perfection beyond 

 ■which they cannot go and at which point their 

 seedlings begin to deteriorate, cannot be considered 

 as established, although it has been accepted by 

 many. The only truth in this point seems to be, 

 first, that highly developed varieties, if feeble, may 

 yield seedlings which are possessed of such low 

 vitality that they cannot be profitably grown; and, 

 second, that improvement for the first few genera- 

 tions after a variety is introduced into cultivation is 

 more rapid than afterward, so that varieties may 

 seem to reach a limit of possible development, 

 though they do not actually do so. 



