ITS STATE TOPOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



impaired vitality. In our opinion the primary cause of this tree-killing lies 

 with that severe winter and the one that followed two years after. "We have 

 lost largely in fruit trees and have been stimulated to a good deal of inquiry 

 and research, and find there are full as many trees diseased and dying by inches 

 up in the limbs as in the trunks. 



AVe are satisfied that all these disastrous results are not the result of want of 

 protection of the roots of the trees, but that with perfect root-protection many 

 varieties only came through that uncommon severity to die by inches during 

 the seasons which have followed. 



Still we do favor strongly protection of the roots of orchard trees, and sug- 

 gest that those who attempt this ascertain where the roots come nearest the 

 surface, and protect accordingly. In small trees the root system is close to the 

 body but in large trees the roots that need the greatest protection and come 

 nearest to the surface are some distance from the trunk, and nothing short of 

 an entire covering by mulching or a crop left upon the ground will suffice. We 

 need not he discouraged in the setting of new trees, but must choose hardy 

 sorts and care for them as well as we can ; studying the cause of disease and 

 methods of protection, thus keeping our knowledge up with the encroachments 

 of difficulties. C. AW G-. 



DO VARIETIES WEAR OUT? 



As often as the fruit season comes round so does the question occur to my 

 mind, do varieties wear out? The question is brought before me by the appear- 

 ance of the fruit trees, which never fail to remind me of the theory of those 

 people who assert that varieties, of the apple especially, are given to die out 

 after having lived to the age allotted them by nature, and that after they have 

 attained this age the best of cultivation will not maintain them in health and 

 fertile condition. 



I can remember this question being mooted when I was a boy carrying vege- 

 tables to the hall. I can also recollect that it attracted the notice of the gar- 

 dener under whom I was serving, and I well remember the views in reference 

 thereto that he expressed one day to the local nurseryman. From that time until 

 now I have been much interested in what has been said or written respecting the 

 question, and for a period of nearly thirty years I have never failed to observe 

 the condition of those fruits which were then said to be fast dying out. I well 

 remember that the old Chaumontel pear, the lied Streak, the Ribston Pippin, 

 and the Golden Pippin apples were amongst the number that were prominently 

 brought forward as likely to die out in a few years. Nevertheless, I still find 

 these fine old fruits in as good a condition as when, as an observant lad, I had 

 known them. Vet lam, in common with others, asked to believe that they are 

 gradually dying out, when, for the trouble of a little seeking, I can find them all 

 existing m the best possible health, and as fruitful as ever they were known to be. 

 For my part I cannot see that there are any more evident signs of their wearing- 

 out than there were when I first knew them, and those who believe in it must 

 advance some sounder arguments than they have yet done before I become a 

 convert to their opinion. I have been at some trouble and expense to obtain 



