STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1 83 



produce better fruit than old ones. On the former there is no more large 

 branch gi'owth than is required to support the smaller ones and the foliage ; 

 but as trees become older, the numerous branches forming in the interior 

 of the trees are gradually shaded out. In this way, each year the young 

 growth is made farther out; tliis in turn yields to such as afterward forms 

 still farther out. In this way long limbs are formed, having only small 

 branches and leaves at, or near their ends. Nor is this all, for in addi- 

 tion to tliese naked branches we find a corresponding growth below ground. 

 Here large roots, which at first were clothed with fibrous roots, in time 

 are quite destitute of them, often for many feet. Each branch root, as it 

 forms, is first clothed, but afterwards, when they become large, all their 

 fibrous or more active roots are at the ends. Let us for a moment 

 inquire the efl'ect these naked branches and roots are likely to exert on 

 the trees and on the fruit. To comprehend this, we must first consider 

 that each summer, layers, not only of wood, but of bark as well, must 

 be made throughout the entire length of these long roots and naked 

 branches, to connect the root feeders with the leaves. 



To ascertain whether roots of old peach trees are in the condition we 

 have stated, one has but to inspect those of any old orchard. Then he 

 will more clearly comprehend how enormously the small roots and leaves 

 are taxed to make the annual layer of wood and bark growth, of which 

 mention has been made. By inspecting the tops of trees, one sees 

 less than half the naked surface yearly to be covered with new growth ; 

 for in nine cases out of ten a much larger disproportion exists between 

 active and naked roots, than between the leaves and branches. 



This condition of all others, is most to be avoided ; for both tlie new 

 wood-growth and the fruit draw for the same material. 



For this reason, when the trees make a crop of fruit, the new wood- 

 growth will be so thin, and liave so little plant food stored, that such trees 

 can not the following year produce much fruit, or if they do, it will 

 necessarily l^e small. We have within the past two years inspected the 

 roots of many trees, on which there ^\•as not a fibrous root nearer than 

 six feet from the trunks. By this we do not mean that in that distance 

 there were no branch roots, for in most cases there were manv, but each 

 in turn had become naked, with only tufts, as it were, of rootlets at their 

 ends. 



Every time a tree perfects and carries safely through the winter a 

 large number of fruit germs, it is then taxed to carry them through their 

 period of bloom. In addition to this, the young fruit must be sustained 

 until near the time when the seeds begin to harden. This must be done 

 almost wholly out of materials which were stored in the tree the previous 

 summer. While this draft is being made, the tree has at the same time 

 to draw from the same material for the enlarcfcment of jrerm branches 

 and leaves, also for the production of new rootlets and root hairs. There- 

 fore, it can be comprehended, when all these parts have to ])e sustained 

 from a common store, afibrding, perhaps, but a scanty supply, that tlie 

 less active roots, as well as branches, will cease to act, and die; those 

 only sustaining themselves which are youngest and best situated with 



