474 KACES DO NOT WEAE OUT. 



by artificial processes of multiplication ; one tree he propa- 

 gates by layers, another by cuttings planted in the ground. 

 Going a step further he inserts a cutting of one individual 

 upon the stem of some other individual of the same species, 

 under the name of a bud or a scion, and thus obtains a 

 vegetable twin. 



It is not contended, for there is nothing to show, that these 

 artificial productions are more short-lived than either parent, 

 provided the constitution of the two individuals is in perfect 

 accordance. There is not the smallest evidence — ^it has not 

 been even conjectured — that if a seedling Apple-tree is cut into 

 two parts, and these parts are reunited by grafting, the dura- 

 tion of the tree will be shorter than it would have been, in the 

 absence of the operation. No one indeed alleges that the 

 Garlic of Ascalon has only a short life, although it has been 

 propagated by sub-division from the time when it bore the 

 name of Shummin, and fed the labourers at the Pyramids; 

 nor do we know that the bulb-bearing LUy is supposed to have 

 less inherent vigour than if it were multiplied by seeds instead 

 of bulbSi 



Seeds, however, are said in all instances to produce healthy 

 plants. But this, like the previous assertions, will not bear 

 exact investigation. The health of a seedling depends upon 

 that of the seed. Under no circumstances wiU unhealthy 

 seed yield vigorous offspring in the first generation; this is 

 proved every day by what comes from grain debilitated by age. 

 And there cannot be found a gardener, of any large experience, 

 who does not know that seedUngs will exhibit every diversity 

 of constitution from health to decrepitude. This has been 

 strikingly shown in the case of the PotatOj which, when 

 attacked by disease, in 1845, was said to be the victim of dege- 

 neracy, and to require renewal byfresh seed-sowing. Attempts 

 were made in all directions to carry out this idea, and large 

 quantities of seedling potatoes were raised. Among them great 

 diversity of vigour and other qualities was, as usual, observed ; 

 some were much more healthy than others, as was always the 

 case ; but the evidence thus obtained failed to support the 

 hypothesis that renewal by seed would prevent disease. On 



