J. F., Keswick Depot, Albemarle Co., Va., writes:

"Will you be so kind as to favor me with your opinion as to the value of grafts or scions taken from the superfluous shoots and twigs of nursery stock, pears and apples, from one to two years old, from the graft, in comparison with those taken from the extremities of the branches (midway the trees) of thrifty bearing varieties. What is the difference in time, if any, in beginning to bear, and in bearing qualities of trees raised from these different buds or scions?"

[Some of the Questions mentioned here, are much like the "Which is the best hotel?" among travelers. There are differences, but after you have decided " the best," the other one may be good enough for all general purposes. Now, a scion taken from healthy young nursery trees we should regard as good enough for anybody. If we were to plant an orchard, it would probably not enter our heads to make it a question. Yet if it is to be an abstract question which may require some nice determination, we should certainly decide in favor of the larger, healthy, bearing trees. As to the time of the young trees coming into bearing, all other things being exactly equal, the scions from older trees would probably bear first. But the chances of " all other things being equal," are not good, and we fancy different people would have different experiences. - Ed. G. M].