04 On the accidental Intermixture of Character in 



pie, a Codlin with a Pearmain, which will occasion the Codlin 

 so impregnated to last a longer time than usual, and be of a 

 sharper taste ; or if the winter fruit should be fecundated 

 with the dust of the summer kinds, they will decay before 

 their usual time ; and it is from this accidental coupling of the 

 farina of one kind with the other, that in an orchard, where 

 there is variety of Apples, even the fruit gathered from the 

 same tree differs in its flavour and times of ripening; and 

 moreover, the seeds of those Apples so generated being 

 changed by that means from their natural qualities will pro- 

 duce different kinds of fruit if they are sown." 



In the Philosophical Transactions, also, for the year 1745, 

 the subject is noticed by Mr. Benjamin Cook, in a paper, 

 Concerning the effect which the farina of the Blossoms of 

 different sorts of Apple trees had on the fruit of a neighbour- 

 ing Tree. In this communication it is stated that Mr. Cook 

 " sent to Mr, Peter Collinson some Russetings changed by 

 the farina of a next neighbour, whose name he wanted skill 

 to know, but could only say, that the Russeting had acquired 

 his face and complexion. Mr. Collinson then produced 

 several samples of the Apples : an untainted Russeting, a 

 Russeting changed in complexion which grew among a great 

 cluster of unaltered brethren, and some Apples of the other 

 tree which had caused the change in the Russetings, and 

 whose fruit had, in return, received a rough coat from the 

 Russetings." 



A further proof of such intermixture taking place is given 

 by the same writer in the Transactions for the year 1748, 

 and again alluded to by him in those for the year 1749. 



Having thus shewn, that the opinion now entertained is not 



