SECRETARY'S REPORT. 39 



and drooping — not in a condition to resist the rigors of the follow- 

 ing winter and spring, any more than a person whose constitution 

 had been broken down would be prepared to withstand a fever. 

 The trees having thus received a severe shock, which left them on 

 the sick list, were an easy prey to whatever might befall them there- 

 after. Thus at the beginning of the last season, after the blossoms 

 in many instances had put forth, there came a pinching frost, which 

 took a strong hold of them. Many of them drooped and died. 

 Others let fall the blossoms. A few brought forth poor fruit, and 

 a very few are yet vigorous and bring forth fruit in abundance. 



There is another cause, which we do not feel at liberty to over- 

 look or pass over in silence ; and that is injudicious pruning. 



This opens a wide field for discussion, including the method of 

 grafting, which is too often done by bunglers, who have a very 

 inadequate idea (if any) of what they are doing. We have seen 

 grafting done in such a manner as entirely to preclude the proba- 

 bility of the tree ever after being of any value, except for fuel. 



Sometimes grafting is done in the lateral branches of the tree, so 

 far from the trunk that it requires a forcing pump to send sap 

 enough into them to keep them alive, leaving out the idea of their 

 ever bearing fruit. 



Perhaps it is expected that we shall say something about the 

 decay that is so often experienced in the rearing of young trees 

 when first set for an orchard. In the first place, many of the trees 

 are killed, or nearly so, before they are set — having the top cut off, 

 so that there is nothing to draw sustenance from the ground ; and 

 if, as in many instances is the case, rich soil and, at times, strong 

 manures are placed at the roots, the sap is forced into the trunk, 

 (which often resembles more an ox-goad than a fruit tree,) and, at 

 times, there is a most luxuriant growth, which continues so late in 

 the season that the wood does not get matured before the cold 

 weather. In the following spring, many are disappointed ; for 

 when they look for the foliage which appeared so beautiful the faU 

 before, lo ! nothing is seen but withered tranches. Those set in 

 poor soil, having the top and lateral branches cut off in many in- 

 stances, never show signs of life ; or, if they do, they are so feeble 

 that they might as well be dead. 



There is another cause why many trees die after being set. That 

 is the baking of the earth around them. 



It being our duty to point out a remedy, we would say, the best 

 remedy for the drouth is, to mulch the trees. There has not come 



