164 THE FLORIST AND 



that the " finest fruits produce the finest seedlings." There is, in fact, a 

 close connection between cuttings or buds, and seeds ; and very nearly the 

 same powers and capabilities are possessed by each. Seed has the advan- 

 tage over the former, in its capacity to unite several forms through admix- 

 ture of pollen into itself, as well as by the possession of a harder coat or 

 exterior shell, by which it can be preserved to a much longer period. Their 

 essential difference is structural, not physiological, consequently, no physi- 

 ological differences can arise through either means being preferred for 

 propagation. The Double Flowered ^Cherry, which has been continued by 

 grafting for generations, is just as healthy and vigorous as the Triumph of 

 Cumberland, or any of the newer kinds. The Double White Camellia, one 

 of the oldest of the tribe, is also as vigorous as A. J. Downing, or Jenny 

 Lind. A bud is so essentially a seed, and a seed a bud, that we frequently 

 see plants producing buds, or young living plants in the place of seeds. 

 The field garlic, the garden lilies, and many grasses are familiar examples. 

 The sweet vernal grass in a damp, moist soil, produces small living plants, 

 frequently in the position and place of flowers and seeds ; and the garlic 

 has the same phenomena in a dry one. These viviparous plants are good 

 illustrations of the unity of the essence of seeds and buds; and being so 

 nearly allied, why should one mode of propagation be so superior to the 

 other ? There is no good and sufficient reason theoretically, and practically 

 all experience is opposed to it. 



As before remarked, double varieties of fruits or flowers continued for 

 years by buds or grafts, show no tendency to decay ; and the same may be 

 said of trees and plants raised by suckers, cuttings, offsets or tubers — all 

 modified forms of buds. The Currant and Gooseberry have probably been 

 thus continued for many an age, and the Strawberry and Raspberry, by 

 runners and suckers. 



Coming nearer in its structure to the Potato, the Jerusalem Artichoke 

 has been propagated and raised for ages by its tubers, in countries where it 

 is seldom able to produce a flower, much less a seed ; and yet it is probably 

 as hardy, healthy and productive at this day as it ever was. 



But laying aside all theories of the identity of nature between seeds and 

 buds, and all experience of the duration of other plants continued by other 

 modes than seeds, and returning for the present to the Potato, we find that 

 it in itself affords evidence that it has not degenerated from being raised by 

 tubers, and that there is no reason why it should not still go on in the same 

 way it has done for an infinite number of years. My position is, that 

 the Potato disease of 1846 no longer exists ; and that the Potato has been 



