On the Want of Permanence of Character in Fruit. 161 



duced red fruit in every respect perfectly similar to the well 

 known Red Magnum Bonum Plum. I had also, some years 

 ago, a May Duke Cherry tree, one branch of which con- 

 stantly produced oblong fruit, that ripened later than the 

 produce of the other branches of the same tree, and was of 

 greater weight, but of inferior excellence. I am confident, 

 that neither of the branches above-mentioned had sprung 

 from an inserted bud or graft ; and I therefore cannot hesi- 

 tate to decide, that the Red Magnum Bonum Plum is a 

 variety only of the Yellow. The D'Auch Pear I also con- 

 clude to be a variety of the Colmar ; the large Swan's Egg, 

 a similar variety of the small ; and the two kinds of St. 

 Germain Pears (which Merlet and Duhamel have noticed, 

 and which I have described in a former communication,)* to 

 be varieties only of each other. The Green Gage and other 

 Plums, and the Nonpareil and Golden Pippin, and other 

 Apples, appear to have sported considerably in variety, in 

 this way ; and I therefore wish to point out to those Mem- 

 bers of the Horticultural Society, who are in the habit of 

 raising fruit trees, the necessity of selecting their grafts and 

 buds from such trees only, as are found to afford each variety 

 of fruit in its greatest state of excellence : or from such 

 as may happen to present any valuable peculiarities of cha- 

 racter. 



* Vol. i. page 226'. 



