and better strain would become fixed and uniform, unless it was again
treated with the neglect which formerly caused the deterioration. By
this method of selection and careful propagation the primal vigor
shown by the varieties which justly become popular may be but the
starting-point on a career of well-doing that can scarcely be limited.
Is it asked, "Why is not this done by plant-growers?" You, my dear
reader, may be one of the reasons. You may be ready to expend even a
dollar a plant for some untested and possibly valueless novelty, and
yet be unwilling to give a dollar a hundred for the best standard
variety in existence. If I had Wilsons propagated as I have described,
and asked ten dollars a thousand for them, nine out of ten would write
back that they could buy the variety for two dollars per thousand. So
they could; and they, could also buy horses at ten dollars each, and
no one could deny that they were horses. One of the chief incentives
of nurserymen to send out novelties is that they may have some plants
for sale on which they can make a profit. When the people are educated
up to the point of paying for quality in plants and trees as they are
in respect to livestock, there will be careful and capable men ready
to supply the demand.

Beginning on page 349, the reader will find supplemental bits of
varieties which have appeared to me worthy of mention at the present
time. I may have erred in my selection of the newer candidates for
favor, and have given some unwarranted impressions in regard to them.
Let the reader remember the opinion of a veteran fruit-grower. "No
true, accurate knowledge of a variety can be had," he said, "until it
has been at least ten years in general cultivation."

I will now take my leave, in the hope that when I have something
further to say, I shall not be unwelcome.