Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1894 — That Apple Once More. [ARTICLE]

That Apple Once More.

Texas Siftings. Mrs. McSychophant, the wife of Parson McSychophant; a Texas clergyman, happened to be present; when the class was being examined by the aforesaid clergyman. “Tommy,” asked the clergyman, “did Adam nfha Eve sin in the Garden of Eden?” “You bet they did,” replied Tommy. ■ “Which sinned first, Adam or Eve?” Tommy scratched his head and hesitated. In order to give him a hint that Eve had first transgressed the Parson pointed towards his wife. Tommy caught on immediately and roared out: “Your wife sinned first!” Almost all leading agricultural and horticultural periodicals have the pages filled with descriptions of new varieties of fruits and vegetables, a large majority of which, after being tested, prove to be of no more value than those which they superseded. It may be wondered whether this branch of horticultural literature is a benefit or disadvantage. Certainly in the very large number of classes of fruits and vegetables varieties popular to day are no better, if as good, as varieties Thai were in vogue a FaTTT'entut'y' ago. This is particularly the case with the strawberry. Certainly, the proportion of large and high flavored seen in our markets is far less than it has been in former timdk. Pne could go into a 1 garden and gather fruit, eating it with a relish directly from the vines; in these times one would scarcely think of eating them unless heavily smothered in sugar and cream. The only thing to be said in favor of this influx of new kinds is that in some unexplained way — though possibly from unnatural systems of cultivation—varieties tlegenerate, and other varieties have to be introduced. Not so much, perhaps, to improve the kind, as to make up for the degeneration that has been experienced. As a vital principle ol vegetation there is no such thing as a degeneration of varieties. If left to nature, or even under systems ol cultivation, there is no evidence thal a variety would ever wear out; but 'as a living fact, within the exper-; | icnce of every one engaged in fruit! ! and vegetable culture, varieties cerl tainly do wear out and very often wear out muph more rapidly than the cultivators find profitable.