I. Observations on the Care of Fruit-Trees. 



In considering the subject of the proper care to be given to fruit- 

 trees, one is struck with the fact that all kinds of fruits are suffi- 

 ciently productive in western New York, save only the apple; and 

 a moment's reflection brings to mind the fact that the apple, alone, 

 is the fruit which is commonly raised in sod and which everywhere 

 receives the least attention. The presumption is at once raised, 

 therefore, that this sod and neglect are in some vital way associated 

 with the declining productiveness of apple-trees. In order to put 

 ourselves right upon the question we must first of all ascertain, if 

 we can, why the apple is of all fruits the most neglected. 



My older readers will recall the fact that until recent years the 

 effort of the fanner has been directed to the growing of hay, grain 

 and stock. Previous to this generation the growing of fruit has 

 been a matter of secondary or even incidental importance. A bit 

 of rocky or waste land, or an odd corner about the buildings, was 

 generally given over to the apple orchard, and if the trees received 

 any attention whatever it was after all other demands of the farm 

 had been satisfied. All this was particularly true of the farming 

 previous to tlie second third of this century, and the apple and 

 standard pear orchards of the country still record the old method. 

 It has required at least a generation of men in which to thoroughly 

 establish any new agricultural system, and the time is not yet fully 

 arrived for the passing ont of the old orchards and the coming in 

 of the new. In other fruits than apples and standard pears the 

 generations of trees are comparatively short lived and those fruits 

 sooner feel the effects of new agricultural teachings. Orchards of 

 plums, dwarf pears, apricots, cherries and quinces have mostly come 

 into existence along with the transition movement from the old to 

 the new farming, and they have been planted seriously, with the 

 expectation of profit, the same as the grain crops have. Peaches 

 had passed out in most parts of the east, and they are now coming 

 in again, with the new agriculture. At the present time men buy 

 farms for the sole purpose of raising fruit, a venture which would 



