186 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



But change is written in indeJible lines all over the broad expanse 

 of earth. Elements, animate and inanimate, vegetable and mineial, all 

 alike pass the ordeal, and the careful observer will note the character 

 and rapidity of these changes. The scientist will study the forces at 

 work, and reveal the causes of the various eifects produced. The 

 skillful physician will carefully diagnose his case before he prescribes 

 for it. 



In like manner should the horticulturist understand the nature and 

 wants of tree-life before he can deal wisely with the tree itself. This 

 can be accomplished only by close attention to the business, and we 

 are persuaded (hat no profession or calling requires more observation 

 and study than that of the horticulturist. 



It is a lamentable fact, evident to every member of this profession^ 

 that many — very many — orchards in this section of country have lost 

 their pristine vigor, and are fast becoming unprofitable and worthless.. 

 This can be attributed to many and varied causes, the most potent of 

 which are sheer neglect, vile treatment and the want of proper food 

 supply for the trees. But the chief cause at the bottom of all is 

 ignorance, a want of the knowledge of the laws governing tree life. 



I shall not attempt to present any special remedies to apply in 

 these cases; for the treatment should be about the same as that of an 

 orchard properly cultured and developed from its beginning, but 

 shall present a few suggestions for the treatment of orchards in 

 general. 



The question arises, "Shall we cultivate our orchards?" and in 

 reply, I say yes ; but it must be done with the greatest care. 



I think that young trees, as well as those bearing fruit, are far less 

 likely to suffer from drouth and the want of proper nourishment and 

 food supply, where the land is planted to a hoed crop, and after stirred 

 with a cultivator, than where it is in grass or in any kind of sowed 

 crop. When the trees come into bearing, we get finer fruit and more 

 of it from an orchard well fertilized and thoroughly cultivated. We 

 have known men to set out young trees in meadows and old pastures, 

 digging holes in the sod just suflScient to accommodate the roots, and 

 saying, " Why should anyone insist on trimming trees." In a few 

 years they smile at beholding these trees one mass of bloom, and later 

 inthe season, they are still more pleased to see them bending under a 

 load of ripening fruit. This they call productiveness, when it is more 

 often premature decay and death. It is no wonder that many trees die 

 the first cold winter. All over this State, many failed to grow this 

 and last spring. Many limbs and branches died this summer on ac- 



