140 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Mat 
which is continued to them ten or twelve weeks. In 
the meantime they are encouraged to eat a little fine 
hay and nibble at a few carrots, which is of essential 
service in weaning them from milk. 
I have said that the honorable board of trustees have 
set an example for us all to imitate. Here is certainly 
an object worthy the consideration of other State So¬ 
cieties; and I would particularly call the attention of 
my agricultural brethren in Vermont to the importance 
of the subject. We have now a State Society in em¬ 
bryo, with no definite plan of action before us, and why 
cannot something of this kind be presented and carried 
through? The State is, and must ever be, eminently a 
dairying and stock-growing region, and hence the im¬ 
portance to our farmers of an improved race of cattle. 
There is too much reason to doubt the utility of premi¬ 
ums as they are often paid out; because the statements 
of competitors are so defective, and generally so un¬ 
satisfactory, in establishing clearly defined facts of ge¬ 
neral utility. It seems to me, however, that in the 
improvement of the stock of a region, like that con¬ 
templated by the Massachusetts Society, money may 
be expended that shall prove of constantly increasing 
utility. There is evidently a deep and growing inter¬ 
est in the promotion of our agriculture, felt by men of 
intelligence and influence in all parts of the State; and 
it is to be hoped that a sufficient concert of action may 
be realized, whereby our State Society—availing itself 
of the past experience of the Massachusetts Society— 
may enter at once upon the improvement of this com¬ 
manding interest. F. Holbrook. 
Brattleboro, Vt., March 10, 1848. 
“ RtnfWIHTG- <0>UT OF VARIETIES.” 
Under this head we published a communication in 
our March number from H. A. Parsons, Esq. With¬ 
out intending to enter at this time into a detailed dis¬ 
cussion of the subject, we think it proper to state a 
few of the reasons why we dissent from some of Mr. 
P.’s conclusions. 
He is mistaken in supposing we had expressed the 
opinion that plants, under any circumstances, “ do 
not degenerate.” This is not our position; but we hold 
that plants have no natural tendency to degeneration. 
Mr. P. on the other hand, if we understand him, be¬ 
lieves that all plants have an inherent tendency of this 
kind—that degeneracy results from an original, or con¬ 
stitutional principle. He thinks “ the science of botany 
and vegetable physiology,” prove that any plant con¬ 
tinued from u the same seed on the same soil,” will 
“ degenerate till it becomes extinct.” 
That degeneracy may follow fro'm growing a plant 
“ from the same seed on the_same soil,” is not impro¬ 
bable ; but does this consequence ensue from the natu¬ 
ral decline of the.species or variety to which the plant 
belongs, or from the exhaustion of the soil and unfa¬ 
vorable external influences? This is the question. 
Let it be remembered that every plant requires its 
specific food; and that each successive crop, or gene¬ 
ration of the same kind of plant, takes something from 
the soil. Hence it necessarily follows that this loss 
must be supplied, or exhaustion will follow; and as the 
food required by the plant is lessened, it is evident that 
the amount of produce will be lessened in a corres¬ 
ponding ratio. But is it proper to say that a decline 
of this kind, is the result of any law of “ botany or 
vegetable physiology?” But though Mr. Parsons has 
told us that such a law exists, he has not told what it 
is, or where it may be found, as expressed or under¬ 
stood by those who believe in its validity. 
It will be observed that the theory advocated by 
Mr. Parsons applies to “ any plant,” including not only 
those which are propagated by buds, bulbs, or tubers, 
but all others, whatever may be their mode of repro¬ 
duction. But without any reference to the persons 
who have given credence to this theory, let us ask, is 
it sustained by facts? Is there anything within our 
knowledge connected with the cultivation or growth of 
grains, fruits or vegetables, w r hieh can constitute a 
basis for such a theory? Take wheat, for example. 
Some of the varieties held in highest estimation, are 
known to have been cultivated in the districts where 
they are now found, for several centuries; and a variety 
cultivated in Egypt, (the Triticum compositum ) has 
been grown on the banks of the Nile for more than 
three thousand years. There are several facts that 
establish this conclusion; but the following may be 
taken as a demonstration: The ancient people of that 
country, sometimes placed small quantities of wheat in 
the embalmed bodies of their dead. In several instan¬ 
ces wheat has been taken from mummies, which, from 
hieroglyphical records connected with them, were 
known to have been interred for the long period men¬ 
tioned; and this wheat on being sown has vegetated, 
and been found to be identically the same kind as that 
grown in Egypt at the present day! How long a time 
is required for this kind of plant, u grown from the 
same seed on the same soil,” to “ become extinct?” 
But Mr. Knight believed that some old kinds of 
pears and apples had become unprofitable on account 
of their constitutional decline. Were he now alive, he 
would have sufficient evidence that his theory would 
not apply to the kinds mentioned by him. The Autumn 
Bergamot is said to be the oldest variety of pear 
knowm, having been cultivated by the Homans two 
thousand years ago. Mr. Knight thought it was about 
to become extinct. In France and other parts of Eu¬ 
rope it now does well, and in this country, according to 
Downing, it grows vigorously, and bears good crops. 
The Brown Beurre, St. Germain, Chaumontelle, and 
White Doyenne, (Virgalieu or St. Michael,) are all old 
kinds—some of them have been known for two hundred 
years—yet all produce well, in good soils, in this coun¬ 
try, and are said to produce better in France than they 
did several years ago. The White Doyenne, which 
from having failed around Boston, was taken by some 
as an evidence in support of Mr. Knight’s theory, is 
considered in the Genesee valley (according to a state¬ 
ment of J. J. Thomas, in the March number of the 
Horticulturist,) one of the most productive, hardy and 
healthy varieties there known. 
Of apples, the Golden Pippin and Nonpareil are very 
old sorts, and w r ere supposed by Knight to have “ run 
out.” The former has been cultivated for nearly two 
hundred years. It is well known that these kinds 
flourish well on proper soils in this country. We havo 
seen the fruit of both varieties in the highest perfec¬ 
tion; and even in England the failure in Mr. Knight’s 
time was only partial, and by improved cultivation tho 
former productiveness of the kinds has there been re¬ 
stored. 
Take an example of another kind:—The common 
variety of red currant has been propagated by buds or 
scions from a time the memory of man goeth not be- 
