WARSAAV HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 363 



Another mistiiku wc have made (at least some of us), is hi phuitiiig too largely, l'orj;etting that the 

 euemiesof tVuit-eiiltiire are increasing at an alarming rate, and that every tree and vine planted in- 

 creases the conditions of failure. Twenty, forty or sixty acres of orchard or vineyard require such a 

 constant oversight, and large amount of labor, that we are apt to neglect some important point either 

 in cultivation, pruning, destroying insects or gathering fruit, and thus suffer loss. The time has 

 Iteen in the history of this Western country when we had but to plant the trees and gather the fruits, 

 and we fondly lioped that this condition of affairs would always continue; )>ut a change has come 

 over the spirit of our dreams, and we are beginning to realize the fact that horticulture is rapidly 

 assuming a new phase, and that hereafter eternal vigilance will 1)c the price not only of liberty but of 

 fruit. 1 am inclined to lielieve tliat if tlie same numltor of apple trees usually planted on forty acres 

 (say sixteen hundred) were planted on ten acres, and the same amount of labor usually given to the 

 forty applied to the ten in a judicious system of cultivation, and root and top-pruning, that the net 

 l)roceeds would be the greatest from the smallest amount. 



Another diiliculty that confronts us is the apparent deterioration of varieties. I am aware that 

 there is much diversitj of oi)inion in regard to this matter, some of our best authorities taking the 

 ground that varieties never do deteriorate or runout. Says Dr. Warder, in American Pomology, 

 any portion of a tree grafted on another stock, or planted immediately in the ground itself and estab- 

 lished upon its own roots, will produce a new tree like the lirst. Being furnished with supplies of 

 nourishment it may grow indefinitely, while retaining all the nualities of the parent stock. Indeed, 

 new life and vigor often seems to be imparted by a congenial thrifty stock and fertile soil. So there 

 does not appear to be any reason whj' a variety should ever run out or disappear. 



On the other hand. Col. Wilder says, however we may theorize in regard to this matter, it must be 

 admitted from a practical point of view, that some varieties have so declined as to render it abso- 

 lutely necessary to replace them with new varieties. This it appears to me is the correct view of the 

 case, although we nuiy not be alile to sustain it tjy any of the well understood princijiles of vegetable 

 Physiology. Among apples that are apparently failing, the Newtown Pippin, Belmont, Cooper, 

 and Geniton stand prominmit. Some of the old Eastern varieties that seemed to bo exhausted on 

 fheir native soil, appear for a time to take a new lease of life In the west, but soon begin to show 

 signs of failure. The White Doyenne and Beurre Diel Pears may be.cited to illustrate this point. 

 We all know that ten years ago we could rely on a crop of Catawlja Grapes with as much certainty as 

 a crop of corn or potatoes. Their failure cannot be attributed to the age of the vines tor old and 

 young alike fail. Nor to the climate, for it was as fitful then as now. Nor to the cultivation or sys- 

 tem of pruning, for it was the same ten years ago as to-day. Nor to the exhaustion of any of the 

 specific elements of the soil, for on all soils they arc exceedingly fickle. What then is the difliculty ? 

 To my mind it is evident that the variety is exhausted, that it has had its day and will soon be num- 

 bered with the things of the past. 



Another mistake that Agriculturists and Horticulturists make, is in neglecting to make themselves 

 acquainted with the operations of others engaged in the same business. We should spend more time 

 in visiting our neighbors' grounds and witnessing their operations, and conversing with them under 

 their own vine and fig tree, and especially .shoidd we as fruit growers, make it a point to attend the 

 meetings of our Slate, District, and local Horticultural Societies. We should use every means in 

 our power to inform ourselves, if we would become skillful, and successful Horticulturists. 



Each succeeding generation should be wiser than their fathers. Standing upon their experience 

 and accumulated wisdom and thus sweeping' a wider field of vision, the child may comprehend at a 

 glance that which cost his father years of patient toil . Tlie great want of the rural districts is intel- 

 ligent, skillful, cultured, men. Men who recognize the fact that the world is progressive, and fully 

 understand that the farmer is no longer the servant of all. and that if they would occupy their 

 legitimate position in Society they must prepare themselves for it. The time has been in the history 

 of the world, when, like the children of Issacher, the escutcheons of the Agriculturists, shouUI have 

 been an ass couching down between two burdens. But in these latter days this idea is passing away 

 as the blessing of Judah is supposed by )nany to have fallen upon him. Binding his foal to the vine 

 and his ass's colt to the choice vine, lie shall wash his garments in wine and his clothes in the blood 

 of grapes. Or of Asher of whom it was said his bread shall be fat and lie sliall yield royal danties. 

 Yet many of them are very slow to apprecialc and enjoy their blessings, but tenaciously cling to that 

 rotten old conservatism which has caused them to fall a .ueneralion behind other men in the race for 

 position, wealth and honor. 



Some of the tillers of the soil are so very conservative that they consider a new idea a temiitation 

 of the devil, and earnestly strive to banish it from their minds. May we not rather believe that the 

 new thoughts that originate in the careful student of nature are given him by the creator to direct 

 him in the path of usefulness and duty, and if acted upon will often lead to grand results. 



Kural pursuits are yearly becoming more attractive and honorable. The old idea that any fool 

 could make a farmer, and that to educate a man was to spoil him for that very useful but somewhat 

 degrading occupation, is about exploded, and it is now conceded that intelligence is one of the 

 most iniportanf requisites for the successful tiller of the soil. 



