STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 39]^ 



been a source of much discouragement. T now proceed to the 

 consideration of a few points bearing on the 



Treatment of Orchards. 



In tlie vegetable, as in the animal kingdom, age never resumes 

 the appearance and the functions of 3'outh ; and he who disregards 

 this natural law in his treatment of either Iiis orchard or himself, 

 will inevitably meet with failure and disappointment. Orchards may 

 become prematurel}- old in consequence of neglect, overbearing, 

 starA'ation, and other causes. Unproductiveness and deca}^ follow ; 

 and their owners, as well as others, in many cases, unsuspicious of 

 the cause, are led to regard orcharding a failure. But the observing 

 mind looks upon such failures as incentives to a more intelligent and 

 careful practice and the result will rarely disappoint the expectation. 

 The first appearance of unthrift in a tree should receive prompt 

 attention, the cause sought for, and a remedy applied if possible. 

 Sometimes it is difficult to determine in adA^ance the result of an3'^ 

 prescribed attempt at renovation. Usually, it is believed, well 

 directed efforts bestowed upon a tree not evidently too old, will 

 prove reasonably remunerative and sometimes wonderfully' so. In 

 this, as in other matters pertaining to every da}- life, theory needs 

 to be supplemented by experience, to be modified and corrected by 

 failure as well as by success. 



No apology is deemed necessarj' for the introduction, in this con- 

 nection, of certain facts bearing on this subject, occurring either in 

 ray own experience, or under my immediate observation. I have in 

 m}' mind an orchard planted about twenty-five years ago with State 

 of Maine grown uurser}- trees — variety, Baldwins. Receiving 

 proper care, it grew finelj', came earl}' into bearing, and has usually 

 borne splendid crops of fruit till last year. For the last eight or 

 ten years it has been treated with neglect. Numerous dead and 

 decaying branches, sure indications of deca}', disfigure the trees 

 standing on high land ; while those on low ground, benefited 

 undoubtedly by fertiliziug material washed from above, are, as yet, 

 thrifty in their appearance, and a few trees receiving an accumulation 

 of road-side washing still make a splendid annual growth of wood 

 as well as fruit. The teaching of this illustration is, we think, too 

 obvious to be misunderstood or misapplied. 



Another illustration occurs to me foreshadowing the probable 

 result in the case just mentioned. This orchard was grafted in the 



