^140 BOARD or AGRICULTURE. 



deterioration of certain varieties by supposing- them to be more or 

 less diseased; — that they are troubled with something analogous to 

 what physicians call " tubercular diathesis," or a scrofulous con- 

 dition in man. Such a habit is hereditary in man, and we find the 

 progeny of some degenerate kinds of fruit, whether they come of 

 seed or by grafting, to inherit the diseased habit of the parent. 

 Such a condition might arise originally from various unfavorable 

 influences, or, more likely, from a combination of them ; — as, for 

 instance, from insufficient food, or from too stimulating food, indu- 

 cing a succulent and unripened growth of wood ; from too severe 

 a climate, or from continued propagation upon unhealthy or unsuit- 

 able stocks. They belive, moreover, that as the scrofulous habit, 

 unless very virulent, may be overcome by a judicious course of 

 treatment, so this deterioration of certain varieties of fruit is not 

 incurable, like old age, but that restoration to full health and vigor 

 is possible. 



The practical deductions from these differing theories are not 

 nearly so much unlike, as the theories themselves. Both alike 

 teach the importance of endeavoring to sustain and extend healthy 

 existence — to plant in fitting soils and situations, to supply appro- 

 priate food in sufficient quantity, shelter to the trunk from the 

 scorching rays of the sun,* and to the leaves from blighting winds 

 — protection, so far as practicable, from the attacks of enemies like 

 insects, vermin and parasites; to eschew all needless mutilations 

 under color of pruning ; in a word, to bestow such judicious care 

 and treatment as shall result, so far as'the result is under our con- 

 trol, in continued vigor and productiveness. 



Is Fruit Culture Profitable ? 



The remark was made just now, that notwithstanding the very 

 unusual and severe drawbacks to the growth of fruit, which were 

 experienced a few years past, and which probably may not be re- 

 peated in the lifetime of the present generation, it has been and 

 promises to be in the future, as profitable a branch of farming as 

 any which can be pursued among us. The neglected appearance 

 of the older orchards, generally, throughout the State, would sug- 

 gest that such is not the common faith, but rather 'that the growth 

 of fruit is best attended to by leiling it grow, and doing nothing 



* Best done by low branches. 



