Longevity of Budded Trees

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4419, 12 July 1884, Page 3

Longevity of Budded Trees

[FkoM""North Nkw Zealand Sbttms."]

Ik answer to our correspondent "Radix," whoso letter appeared in our last month's issue, " Komata " writes :—

"Radix" is perfectly right when he ntftUt.l that it is an advantage to all readers of horticultural journals to discuss such ■natters as tho abovo, and it is with much pleasure that I roply to his quostions so ably put. In tho first place, then, I would arguo that tho special case of tho wellknown Ribston pippin is not sufficient to upset the theory I have advanced, that it is by no moans proved that tho seedling grown nt Ribston Hall died from " puro old ago." Tho theory is a very simple and natural ono, and is porfoctly in accordance with the organic laws of nature. To overy species of animal is allotted a certain period of oxistenco in which to perform tho thrco grout functions of lifo, viz., to grow, to procroato, and to die; and as it is with animals so is it with trees and other vogotables. To each specios is alloted a certain period of oxistonco, and when that period is passed all must succumb to the great tyrant. Tho oxistenco of a treo datos from its growth from a seed ; it grows, bears fruit, attains its full growth, ceases to bo productive, and ultimately dies. Now, the buds and branches aro but a part and portion of its growth, and although by supplying now roots you may infuse new vigour in the samo way that you may introduce now blood into an old man's veins, you cannot prolong ita life beyond the allotted time. It is not necessary to suppose any sympathy betweon budded trees and their parent; their decay and death does not ariso from any such cause, nor aro they affocted by tho mcro fact of the parent dying. A tree often decays and dies from many causes whicli havo no bearing on tho theory, even whero that decay is gradual and to all appearances caused by old age. It is only when tho allotted period of oxistenco for that particular species has run out that tho theory will be found to hold good. Now, in tho instance mentioned of tho Ribston pippin, I may say that oven 170 years, although a vory long time, is by no means what we may tako to bo tho period of an apple tree's existence. Thoro are very many well authenticated instances of apple trees liTing and bearing for far longer periods, and thoro aro somo kinds of fruit trees that have been known to bear for oven 800 years. Otherwise this theory is, as I havo before mentioned, not my o\vn f but an old recognised principle in botany, long known to tho physiological student; and without going any further back I do not know that I could do bettor than quote tho words of tho great botanist, Daniel Ellis, who wrote in or about the year 1840 : —" To the embryo of tho seed, as to every organised body, is assigned certain periods of infancy, maturity, and decay, which may be varied in duration from accidental causes, but can never, beyond certain limits, be changed. What is true of tho primary embryo of the seed is true also of all the buds propagated from it, whether tlioy remain on the parent stock or aro transferred to another. Honco, when tho period arrives in whicli the functions of reproduction naturallj cease in tho buds of tho parent tree, all the buds growing on foreign stocks indicate the samo character of age, and cease to bear fruit; and for tho permanent continuance of the species recourse must then be had to a seminal progeny. Mr. Knight has very ingeniously applied these principles to account for that failure in bearing fruit which tho oldest and best varieties of trees in the cider districts exhibit. Although grafts of these trees still grow on foreign stocks, yet they do not now yield fruit as formerly, because the trees from which they have been taken have outlived the fruit-bearing period." I hope the fine old Ribston pippin's fixed period is not yot como, although I hardly think tho fruit of the present day is anything like so good as it wan on tho before-mentioned old trees, which I recollect seeing fifty years ago when I was a boy. I shall always bo happy to correspond with no well informed a querist aa " Radix."

DECLINE OF MAN.--S.tww w«ikum Dy»iwwla. ImjjpUiiicA Boxual DoblUty, cured by " Wutlsi, UciHL Keuewei? r Kwptlwrao, t'tosß« ft Co,, Agents Auckland, .