The Farmer's Orchard. 29 



This was followed by a cold rain and the sudden change turned 

 the sap in the cells of the overburdened leaves and twigs into poi- 

 son. This caused the fire blight seen in so many thrifty growing 

 orchards. The fungus growth or black spots seen on the fruit, 

 and the rust on the grain are likewise produced by the decom- 

 position of vegetation thus effected. 

 Meeting adjourned. 



2 O'Clock, P. M. 

 The society was called to order by President Smith, and the 

 following paper was read, by Mr. Huntley, of Appleton, on 



THE FARMER'S ORCHARD. 



One of the first recollections of my early childhood is of look- 

 ing in the grass for large yellow apples under an old honey sweet 

 tree, among the green hills of Vermont. I could not have been 

 more than three years old at that time. I have many pleasant 

 memories of looking for early apples when a boy, of putting them 

 in the new hay to ripen, of rising very early mornings after windy 

 nights, to gather the mellow fruit from some particular tree that 

 just suited my taste, and I have witnessed the same pleasure in 

 my own children. There is real enjoyment in watching the 

 growth of a fruit tree. How anxiously we look for the first blos- 

 soms and wonder if they will bring fruit. All the farmer's family 

 partake of this pleasure. 



There is profit also, which is invariably in direct ratio to the 

 amount of intelligence with which one prepares the soil, plants the 

 trees, and cares for them ever after. Some have the idea — or so 

 we would suppose from their practice — that to dig a hole and put 

 in the tree, very much as you would set a fence post, is all that is 

 required, except if it should live, to pasture sheep and cattle in 

 the same field and use them for fodder. Then the tree peddler, the 

 nurseryman, and the country come in for about an equal amount 

 of cursing. Such persons will always tell you that you cannot 

 raise fruit here. 



The location of the orchard should be near the house if possi- 



