ORCHARDS. 93 



side of the stem, had only every alternate branch stripped of 

 the rough, hardened epidermis. Previously to this, the tree 

 had for many years ceased to bear fruit, except occasionally 

 one or two at the extremity of the upper branches. The first 

 season after the above operation, the foliage assumed a lux- 

 uriant and healthy appearance on the decorticated half of the 

 branches, and, in the course of the second year, numerous 

 fruit buds were formed, which in due time produced a fine 

 crop of fruit of excellent quality, while those on the other 

 side, on which the epidermis was suff"ered to remain, continued 

 barren. The application of soft soap (soapsuds, he has it) 

 would have secured a yet higher degree of health and fertility. 

 I have observed in the garden of John Willis, at Oxford, in 

 Maryland — one of the best practical horticulturists I ever 

 knew — that the bodies of his bearing fruit trees were — to use 

 almost the strongest fi^rure I can employ — as smooth, as clean, 

 as polished, and as fresh looking as the arm of a beautiful 

 young bride when just stripped of its glove to receive the 

 wedding ring. The truth is, disguise or shy it as we may, 

 young trees require as much watching and "cleaning, washing 

 and nursing, and to undergo as many vermifugent opera- 

 tions as young children do ; and those who cannot make up 

 their minds to bestow strict and careful attention on both, 

 had better make up their minds not to get either the one or 

 the other ; for in both cases they will deserve the stigma, 

 which should always be afiixed to cruel and unnatural parents, 

 who willfully neglect their young ones." 



The above article called forth at the time the following 

 piquant but complimentary remarks from Mr. Botts, editor of 

 the Southern Planter: 



"As soon as we came to the women and children mixed up 

 with apple, pear and plum trees, we knew whose signature 

 we should find appended to the communication which w^e have 

 transcribed from the ''Fanners Cabinet.'' Mr. Skinner is 

 one of the most racy, piquant and original writers in this 

 country." 



It is to be hoped the young fiirmer will not be deterred 

 from his operations in the orchard, or anywise discouraged by 



