ORIGIN OF- THE APPLE TREE. 21 



Mr. Forsyth in his treatise on fruit says : I have in nu- 

 merous instances seen the stock have great influence on the 

 fruit grafted thereon, in respect to bearing, size and flavor ; 

 and also, on the durability of the tree, particularly in the 

 instance of a number of Yandevere apple trees, the fruit of 

 which was so subject to the bitter rot as to be of little use. 

 They were engrafted fifty years ago, and ever since, those of 

 them having tops composed of several difl"erent kinds, though 

 they continue to be more productive of fruit than any other 

 in my orchard, yet are subject to the bitter rot, the original 

 and well known aff'ection of the fruit of the original stock. 



Experience has fully proven that, although seedlings from 

 apples will scarcely ever produce fruit exactly similar to the 

 original, yet some of them will produce excellent fruit. Some 

 will even be superior to the apples from which the seeds were 

 taken. This fact shows that seeds planted from trees of a 

 strong and rapid growth, and largest and best fruit, should 

 be allowed to bear fruit before grafting, as they will seldom 

 fail to bear good fruit, or at any rate, fruit of some good 

 quality. 



In reference to the latent powers of man and the soil, says 

 a modern writer, " A kmd providence has given man moral, 

 mental and physical powers according to the circumstances of 

 his existence, and placed him upon the earth, containing 

 productive resources sufiicient to maintain that existence. 

 Within both are dormant energies requiring development and 

 invigoration, for which man alone is responsible." It has 

 been well said that he who makes one blade of grass grow 

 where none grew before is a public benefactor. If so, how 

 much greater is he that makes one healthy vigorous apple or 

 peach tree bud, bloom and bend with its luscious load of 

 grateful, health-giving fruit, where none grew before. In 

 doing this work he finds the occupation pleasant, the time 

 well spent, home made more attractive and pleasant, and all, 

 with very little expenditure of money. 



Trees are divided into two principal classes, namelj, fruit and 

 timber trees. The growth of trees is a subject of conside- 

 rable importance ; and as to fruit trees, but few accurate ex- 



