9 
the greatest variation I have yet observed ; and the original tree, 
and the grafts taken from it, have most frequently produced 
their first blossoms in the same season.” 
*227 Age and Propagation of Fruit Trees. Notwithstanding 
Mr. Knight’s recorded opinion as mentioned in section 224, 
respecting the age of Apple Trees as they are usually cultivated, 
still he does not think it impossible but that such trees might be 
grown through many centuries, under management suited espe- 
cially to the purpose of a prolonged existence. He has drawn 
a marked distinction between the roots, the trunk, and the 
branches of trees; and has shown that the latter exhibit indica- 
tions of decay, whilst the roots show signs of their possessing 
the untamed nature of immaturity. “The roots,” he says, “and 
the trunk adjoining them, appear to possess in all trees a greater 
degree of durability than the bearing brandies, having a power 
of producing new branches, when the old have been destroyed 
by accident, or even by old age ; and I have found that grafts 
taken from scions, which have sprung out of the trunks of old 
ungrafted apple and pear trees, grew with much greater luxu- 
riance than those taken, at the same time, from the extremities 
of the bearing branches. The former in their growth assumed 
the appearance of young seedling stocks, and the shoots of the 
pear were, like those, covered with thorns. Those propagated 
from the bearing branches frequently produced fruit the second 
year, but the others remained long unproductive.” 
“Other grafts, which were taken from shoots out of the large 
boughs of the pear tree, in the intermediate space between the 
trunk and the bearing branches partook, in their form of growth, 
of the character of each of the foregoing kinds, producing a 
much smaller quantity of thorns than the one, but not being 
entirely free from them like the other. Whence it appears to 
follow that there is a jirogressive change from the roots to the 
extremities of the bearing branches, and probably an increas- 
ing tendency to decay ; for the life of every tree is known to be 
greatly prolonged, when its branches are frequently taken off, 
and it is compelled to reproduce its buds, or to make use of the 
reserved buds with which nature has provided it.” 
We are not enabled to conclude from Mr. Knight’s experi- 
ments, that by grafting from root shoots a complete renovation 
of a superior worn out variety may be effected, still these hints 
2«. AUCTARIUM. 
