394 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



THE CULTIVATION OF HAKDY FRUITS. 



THE APPLE. 

 {Continued from page 357.) 

 There is a parasitic Lichen wliich often proves very injurious to fruit- 

 trees in old orchards. It is generally of a lightish-grey colour, and 

 when fully established upon the tree, gives it rather a grand and im- 

 posing appearance, especially in winter, when the foliage has departed 

 from the branches. I know of no writer who describes its general 

 appearance so graphically, yet so truly, as Longfellow, in the introduc- 

 tion to his beautiful poem of "Evangeline," when, speaking of the 

 primeval forests of Acadie, now Nova Scotia, he says — 



** This is forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, 

 Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight, 

 Stand like Druids of old, with voices sad and prophetic, 

 Stand like harpers hoar, with beard that rests on their bosoms. " 



It generally makes its appearance upon the trunk of the tree, from 

 whence it gradually spreads itself until every branch thereon becomes 

 hoary and grey by it, unless means be taken to destroy it. It will also 

 be observed that the portion of the tree which is most exposed to the 

 storm will be the first to suffer thereby ; and even although the whole 

 tree have less or more of it, the side to the storm will most abound. 

 This Lichen belongs to one of the five classes into which they have been 

 divided ; viz., the Homothalami, which means that the apothecia or 

 receptacle is altogether formed of, and is the same colour as, the thallus 

 or frond. This class is subdivided into many varieties, but the one to 

 which I refer is an Usneas, but what one I have some difficulty in 

 determining. 



The Lichen belongs to the lowest and most simple form of vegetation, 

 the Fungi tribe alone excepted. Some writers appear to think that this 

 parasite does little or no injury to the tree upon which it grows. Of 

 this, however, I am very sceptical ; at all events, it is not to be found 

 upon a young healthy tree, so that if it really does not do harm, it cer- 

 tainly is an indication of want of health in the tree. " Lichens," one 

 writer tells us, " exist exclusively on atmospheric supplies, requiring 

 only air, sunlight, and some degree of moisture for their support." 

 This no doubt is certainly true, but the atmosphere in a season of pro- 

 tracted drought certainly cannot supply that "degree of moisture 

 necessary for their support" without the aid of the tree. Let the 

 season of drought be ever so protracted, it will be noticed upon the 

 raising of a portion of this parasite from the branch of the tree that a 

 certain amount of moisture lies underneath. Let us therefore take into 

 consideration the dryness of the atmosphere, the burning rays of the 

 sun, and the thinness and the permeability of the Lichen, and what other 



