96 



The cherry and plum do not manifest a tendency to degenerate ; they seem to 

 suffer through injury from insect enemies rather than from any inherent morbid 

 condition. The varieties grown by the earlier cultivators are still known and 

 esteemed, manifesting, even under the influence of repeated engrafting and of arti- 

 ficial modes of cultivation, a decided tendency to long life. Cultural practices which 

 seem to have impaired the longevity of the pear and peach, apparently have little 

 if any effect upon the cherry and plum, thus leaving the question of degeneration in 

 considerable doubt. 



Among the fruits termed " small fruits " the strawberry furnishes the clearest 

 evidence as to its duration of life. Of this fruit, as nearly as I can recall, the kinds 

 that have been cultivated thrive about thirty years, although there have been a few 

 instances of longer duration, and some whose term has been shorter. 



Of twenty sorts grown by nurserymen and advertised fifty years ago, not one 

 is known in cultivation, if we except the Alpine, which seems to be perpetual, as 

 does also the wild or native strawberjy. Within the past forty years hundreds of 

 varieties have been produced from seed, brought into notice, and are now gone to 

 give place to new seedlings; and but few now extensively grown have been known 

 to cultivation twenty years. Of fifty-one varieties grown in the nurseries of the late 

 William E. Prince in 1839, not one remains. The strawberry reproduced from 

 runners gradually becomes enfeebled and unproductive, and passes away, giving 

 place to new and vigourous kinds raised from seed, which seems to be Nature's mode 

 of reproduction. 



The raspberry, blackberry and currant are long-lived, and sorts that were grown 

 as far back as the memory of man runneth are as good now as ever, favourable con- 

 ditions being equal. New seedlings are brought out from time to time, which, as 

 novelties, have a tendency to supplant the older sorts, but the Antwerp, Pranconia, 

 Fastolff, Knevett's and Northumberland raspberries, and a dozen others, are just as 

 good as ever. Neither do the blackberries or currants, when well grown, give much, 

 if any, evidence of degeneration. When thoy fail it may fairly be attributed to the 

 influence of poor soil and cultivation. 



Yegetables, especially those annuallj^ grown from seed, do not degenerate ; seeds 

 may become mixed and new sorts may be produced, but the annuals cannot be 

 classed among plants that degenerate. Some seasons are found unfavourable to the 

 development and growth of certain kinds, and new sorts are being continuallv 

 introduced and tried. 



The potato, indigenous to the mountainoussectionsof Mexico and South America 

 only, is, consequently, when cultivated here, far removed fj'om its native home; :ind 

 it affords us the best illust;ration of the importance of renewal by seed. As usually 

 propagated from the tuber, it grows and thrives well for about twenty-five year.'*, 

 after which it manifests a very decided tendency to degenerate; and new seedlino's 

 are resorted to, which, in their turn, will last a given time and produce good ci-oifs. 

 Within my own experience, I have grown the Black Eusty Coat, Long Eed, Chen- 

 ango, Eohan, Peach Blow, Carter, Jackson White, Dover, Davis' Seedling, Kidney, 

 State of Maine, Eai'ly Eose and Hebron, and several other sorts, but only two of 

 these are now cultivated. 



And, while sei-ious apprehensions are quite ■ generally entertained concerning 

 the detei-iority of plant life and length of vigorous life of the larger and smaller 

 fruits, and while the life and vigour of trees and plants depends largely upon the 

 boil and climate, the health 6f the seed and scion, and the plant food in adequate 

 supply for the nourishment of its yearly growth and longevity — where all these 

 conditions and requisites are furnished, and with the absence of exti'emes of heat 

 and cold, the life and vigour will be prolonged to its fullest period. 

 .. To attempt the inquiry into the growth, longevity and decay of the fruits and 

 vegetables we cultivate — to seek to learu the natural piinci])les involved in the 

 growth of each species, and the laws and principles of decay belonging to each, is 

 particularly difiicult where each seems to be governed by different and intricate 

 forces, pertaining to its peculiar organism. Nature, with man's assistance, has pro- 



