There is an opinion prevalent with some pomologists, that fruits of various kinds, apples and pears for instance, degenerate by a continuation of grafting or budding, through a long series of generations, and that new yarieties obtained from seed are not subject to this degenerating process, until the variety has been long cultivated and propagated by buds or branches.

They say - that propagation by grafting or budding is a continuation of the original tree of the particular variety thus propagated". That is - all the Baldwin Apple trees now growing in the world, are parts and parcels of the original Baldwin Apple tree grown in the state of Massachusetts, and that the ages of those trees are not to be counted from the times they were respectively grafted or budded, but from the time the seed germinated that produced the original tree of that name; that at some future period of time, (not very well ascertained,) this variety of tree will produce degenerate fruit; that the quality of the fruit can never be brought back to its primitive character, because of the age of the parent tree. Yet a seed of this degenerate fruit grown on a tree whose parentage may be traced back two or three centuries, will produce a new variety possessing distinct characteristics; that it will retain those qualities until it arrives at a certain age, when its degeneracy will commence also.

Although this theory has strong names in its support, some of whom have, no doubt, received it on trust without investigation - I have never seen sufficient evidence in the facts relied on, to convince me of its truth.

A particular variety of the apple, (called new,) is discovered in a new settlement, growing on virgin soil; the fruit is large, handsome, and of good flavor. It becomes a favorite, and is extensively propagated by budding or grafting, and spread over large districts of country. The soil on which this variety was first discovered as a "seedling," is cultivated, cropped, and impoverished - manures are applied - the soil is improved and strengthened - it again produces good crops of corn, wheat and grasses; but this apple, (now called old,) does not exhibit its former fair proportions and other praiseworthy qualities. It is condemned as a worn-out, degenerate variety, and the only reason assigned for thus giving the cold shoulder to an old friend is, that it has been legitimately propagated through a long series of generations. Such a reason for casting off an old friend is very easily gotten up, and may be made to assume a very plausible shape.

Now let the "rejected" apple tell its own tale of woe. "My ancestors were highly til many of thorn were obliged to go to the far west to obtain their bread - those who re-maincd behind were compelled to resort to artificial stimulants, which entirely changed the nature and relative properties of the soil, so that we were unable to obtain those par-ticular particles of food which, in former days, contributed so largely to giro us that peculiar flavor and other valuable properties which we then exhibited. Let me tell you in all candor, before we part forever - that if you will place our family in a noil and climate congenial to our taste and constitutional habits, similar in every respect to that in which our ancestors flourished with so much credit, we will engage to redeem our reputation. The younger members of our family are as sound in stem and branch, as ever our ances-ters were. Give us the same food to eat, and climatical air to breathe, and we will produce as good fruit as they ever did."

The nomologist here cuts the argument short by saying - " You are an old supcranuat-ed variety - we have tried you too long already - you have set 'our children's teeth on edge' - we will have nothing to do with you - -our Pomologies! Congress has rejected you, and that's enough! Here is a new seedling variety lately brought to notice by an eminent nurseryman, who has thousands of them fur sale. His price is rather high, to b sure; but then our Pomologies! Congress has recommended it, and I guess they know what's what about good or bad apples."

"Why bless you" - says the rejected apple - "I know all about that needling. A boy, after having eaten an apple of our variety, threw the core containing the seed, in a hedge by the way-side. A tree grew - the frnit had some good properties, and accidentally fell into the hands of a pomologist, who gave it a high sounding name - set it afloat on a popular current, and the wind so far, has been in its favor."

That some varieties of fruit do not succeed so well in localities differing in soil and climate from those in which they originated, is a generally acknowledged fact, clearly demonstrated; but that fact has nothing to do with the question of degeneracy.

The Baldwin Apple is considered good in every respect in the state of Massachusetts. Grafts taken from those trees and cultivated in the southern part of Ohio, produce fruit subject to the " dry rot." Grafts taken from those dry-rot fruit trees in Ohio, and cultivated in Massachusetts, produce fruit equal to those trees which remained at home. Does this prove degeneracy?

It is said that the stock on which a graft is worked has an influence on the fruit. I acknowledge that it has individually, but not generally. The Angouleme pear, worked on the quince, slightly changes the fruit for the better. But take a bud from the Angouleme pear on quince, and work it hack on the pear stock, and there is no difference between its fruit and the Angouleme that has always been worked on the pear stock. This explains what I mean by the influence being individually, but not generally.

Mr. Downing, in his work on " Fruits and Fruit-Trees of America," speaking of the White Juneating Apple, says - "this is an old variety mentioned by Evelyn in 1660, and described by Bay, in 1088, and is a very tolerable little apple." p. T8. Of the Golden Pippin, he says, " It is a very old variety, being mentioned by Evelyn in 16G0, hut it thrives well in many parts of England still." p. 112. Of the Canada Reinette, he says, " It is doubtful, notwithstanding its name, whether it is truly of Canadian Origin, as Mer-let, a French writer, describes the same fruit in the 17th century; and some authors think it was brought to this continent from Normandy, and carried back under its new name. At any rate, it is a very large and handsome fruit, a good bearer, and of excellent quality in all respects." p. 129. Of the Bartlutt pear, he says, " It is an English variety, originated about 1770." p. 334.

Some of our nomologists complain, that certain varieties of fruit are not so good now as when they were little hoys. Perhaps the difference is in the taste and judgment of the boy and those of the man.

I believe that a sound healthy graft, taken from a vigorous tree in perfect health - worked on a seedling stock of the same genera, grown in similar soil and climate - thus reproduced for ages, will never degenerate. That the degeneracy complained of, is in the soil and cultivation - not in the tree or its fruit. A. Marshall.

West Chester, Chester County, Pa.