FRUITS. 135 



technical point. For instance, if the soil is so poor, that all 

 the efforts of the tree are expended in the production of leaves, 

 it is useless, for the production of fruit in that instance, to 

 dabble with nostrums for the extermination of insects. In- 

 sects are a legitimate result of careless cultivation ; weakness 

 invites disease : hence trees, on poor soil or uncared for, will 

 always be afflicted, and suffer more than the vigorous tree in 

 a generous soil. Strong, retentive soils are the best adapted 

 of any in Massachusetts for apple-orchards. A ftict, men- 

 tioned by Mr. Barry, of Rochester, N. Y. , about a quarter of 

 a century ago, in regard to selecting localities for the apple, 

 seems to be lost sight of. In substance it is this ; The ashes 

 of the bark and wood of the apple-tree show that of one 

 hundred parts about fifty are of lime ; hence the inference is 

 drawn that soils abounding in lime, the other conditions being 

 present, would be the best adapted to the production of the 

 fairest and best-flavored fruits. Such we find to be actually 

 the case, and all the regions of Western New York, Vermont, 

 and some portions of Maine, that are rich in lime, give us the 

 best fruits that we consume, for this applies to the pear to 

 nearly the same extent as to the apple. 



Lest some may suspect that this vigor and beauty is due to 

 strong, new soil, which I know from personal appearance has 

 a powerful influence in this direction, I will observe that, 

 seventy years after planting, in New York, the trees and their 

 fruits show these same well-marked characteristics, proving 

 conclusively to the writer that the application of lime in some 

 form, — for this so far as 1 know is experimental, — would 

 result in a permanent invigoration of our orchards. To make 

 them permanently valuable, it has been suggested for years to 

 remove a part of the fruit in even years. It does not appear, 

 however, that this has been practised to an extent sufiicient 

 to satisfy fruit-growers of the value of the plan proposed. 

 Every amateur practises this every year, but for a diflerent 

 purpose; viz., to get more perfect specimens the same year. 

 Now I am of the opinion, from personal experience in this 

 last direction, that if, commencing with an apple-tree as soon 

 as it is large enough to set fruit, we every year, until the tree 

 gets its normal growth, remove two-thirds of the fruit, we 

 should thereby induce a habit of regular bearing that would 



