345 
should in time acquire half the diameter of the latter, which is 
nearly the case, it is clear, that altogether they would cover 
only half the surface of what seedlings would have covered. 
It is a geometrical demonstration, that by taking two equal 
lines, and dividing one of them into two equal parts, the circle 
described on the whole line, contains double the sum of the 
other two circles, which are described on the parts of the other 
line; but when it is considered, that the seedling raises itself 
to more than twice the height of the cutting, their relative 
proportion is no longer to be calculated by the area of the cir¬ 
cle, but by the cube of the whole. Taking it then for granted, 
that the seedling and the cutting are equally fruitful, (a fact 
which I believe is not contested) the former must carry it over 
the latter as t q the quantity of its fruit, in the proportion of 
more than four to one. 
The same gradation is nearly observable between the seedling 
and cutting, as between the wild pear and the quince. Sqme 
pears of the mellow sorts succeed better on the latter, and per¬ 
haps some sweet apples would acquire more flavour on the 
cutting; but this is an experiment yet to be made, and which 
has more reference to fruit for the table titan for cider; and, 
until the fact be ascertained, it is better to procure the one and 
the other from the seedling. It is seldom that the English 
and Normans plant apple trees, which have been grafted on a 
cutting; nevertheless, their nurserymen cannot be ignorant 
how easily it may be propagated; but they kqpw, that if they 
did it, they would lose the confidence of the public, and be 
deprived of their customers. 
If, after all, contrary to the evidence and practice of the 
most enlightened cultivators, SQtne persons should still persist 
to aljow this unfortunate plant room in their orchards, let it be 
at least confined to low grounds; it is rather better adapted to 
such places than to any other. 
It may be asked, how it has been possible to spread a preju¬ 
dice so contrary to the first principles of nature? Perhaps the 
following causes have contributed to it: It is because the cut¬ 
ting requires no further management than that of digging the 
ground where it is to be planted in the nursery ; it is also be¬ 
cause it is strong from its first year, and scarcely wants more 
than half the time which the seedling would take to develops 
itself. These advantages, together with its being cheaper, 
have made it an object to those cider growers, who, reckoning 
the beauty of their orchards as nothing, and rather calculating 
the number than the quality of their apple trees, think they 
are truly economical, because they are put to less expense. 
The plausibility of a thing has always afforded a defence ot 
errors, and under such auspices one may well conceive how 
-this particular one was disseminated from one neighbour to 
another. Be it as it may, this practice must be clas'sed with 
some of those unfortunate prejudices, through which routine 
is become stronger than reason, and has, for some years past, 
^mong usj got the better of our true interests, 
