392 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



limbs when young, and within my own memory. For fifteen or 

 twenty years it was well eared for and produced bountiful crops. 

 Passino; into the hands of another proprietor, pasturage only, was 

 substituted for the generous treatment of the former owner, first 

 with sheep, then with swine. For some time the harvests continued 

 to be as satisfactory as before, but after a few 3"ears the production 

 decreased, and tlie former vigorous and tlnifty appearance of the 

 orchard existed only in the memory of the beholder. The owner 

 then attributed the change to overbcaiing ; he now adds starvation. 

 Under this state of things, the owner plowed, manured and mulched 

 the whole suiface of the ground, bringing it up to a high state of 

 fertility and keeping it in that condition. He also cut out large 

 quantities of dead wood, removing in manj* cases more than half 

 the top. Result : The foilage at once assumed a fresh and livel}' 

 appearance, and the fruit production now seems to indicate that the 

 attempt at renovation was a profitable and judicious expenditure ; 

 but the annual product of dead wood indicates certain and speed}' 

 death. The epitaph must be, died of premature deca}- induced by 

 starvation. 



I come now, somewhat reluctantly, I confess, to the consideration 

 of some points in m}- own experience, which at much cost have led 

 me to believe some things false I once supposed true. About thirty 

 years ago I came into possession of an orchard planted early in the 

 settlement of the town. It was grafted in the limbs when young, 

 and, under the judicious treatment of its careful owner, grew into a 

 beautiful maturity. Subsequentl}' it fell into negligent hands, 

 receiving no care whatever. Besides, it was annually rol)bed of its 

 scanty production of grass as well as fruit. This process had cou-- 

 tinned for more than twenty years when I became owner. It was 

 then in fact as well as in appearance an old orchard. 



Much was said at that time in support of the theory*, that bv the 

 proper use of the saw and the plow, and other specified treatment, 

 old trees might be rejuvenated and become as good as new — almost. 

 At the same time it was claimed that it was not advisable to plant 

 young trees as the_y would not grow as well as formerly. 



So with strong resolution and much courage, I set about the 

 process of revivification. I pruned and cultivated, and dug and 

 manured so far as practicable with the resources of a worn out farm. 

 A few trees were grafted with new and choice varieties. Others 

 were grafted in the sprouts growing from the trunk, while sprouts 



