By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq, 149 



but it is not so ; and the decay of the powers of life in the roots of 

 seedling trees is exceeding slow comparatively with the bearing 

 branches. Scions, obtained from the roots of Pear trees of two 

 hundred years old, afford grafts which grow with great vigour ; and 

 which in many cases are covered with thorns, like young seedling 

 stocks, whilst other grafts taken, at the same time, from the extre- 

 mities of the branches of such trees present a totally different 

 character, and a very slow and unhealthy growth. I do not, how- 

 ever, conceive that any scion which thus springs from the root of 

 an old tree, possesses all the powers of a young seedling tree ; but 

 it certainly possesses no inconsiderable portion of such powers ; and 

 I have proved such scions to be capable of affording healthy trees 

 of a considerable size. 



If grafts or buds were taken from such scions, on their first emis- 

 sion, much time would elapse before any blossom would be pro- 

 duced : but if buds were not taken from such scions till the branches 

 attained the age of puberty, no loss of time whatever would subse- 

 quently occur. 



The branches of the Plum tree, in the experiment abovemen- 

 tioned, emitted roots just at the period when they had attained the 

 age of puberty ; and I do not doubt but that scions from the roots 

 of these will spring from the soil in full possession of all the powers 

 attached to the branches from which they derived their existence. 

 My own experience leads me to think that trees of the Pear, the 

 Apple, and the Plum, might be better raised by layers and cuttings 

 of the roots, than by the methods usually practised, and at less 

 expense. 



The Garden of the Society contains many varieties of fruits, which, 

 I believe, to be extremely valuable as well as new, and the preser- 

 vation of these permanently in their pristine, and present, state of 

 health and vigour, appears to be an object of great importance. 

 And the decay of many varieties (such as the Cornish Gillyflower 



