444 



VITALITY AND LONGEVITY OF FRUIT TREES. 



sowing seeds, at the rate of ten bushels per 

 acre, is one of the best possible applications 

 to the soil. 



It destroj's insects, acts specifically on 

 the strength of the stems, and healthy co- 

 lour of the foliage of plants, assists porous 



soils in collecting and retaining moisture, 

 and is an admirable stimulant to the growth 

 of many vegetables. In all the atlantic 

 states, where it is easily and cheaply pro- 

 cured, it ought, therefore, to form an annual 

 top-dressing for the whole kitchen garden. 



ON THE PRINCIPLES OF VITALITY AND LONGEVITY IN FRUIT TREES. 



BY PROFESSOR TURNER, ILLINOIS COLLEGE. 



The following is one of the most origin- 

 al and interesting articles that we have had 

 the pleasure of laying before our readers. 

 We shall be glad to receive the remainder 

 of our correspondent's views which he pro- 

 mises us in time for next month, and will 

 delay any comments until we have his 

 theory complete before us. — Ed. 



Mr. Downing — Dear Sir : — I have read 

 with much interest, the various discussions 

 on fruit trees and their diseases, in the 

 several numbers of the Horticulturist. I have 

 delayed the correspondence which I some- 

 time since promised, partly for want of time, 

 and partly in order to avail myself of the ad- 

 vantage of a tour through northern Illinois 

 and Iowa, to examine nurseries and converse 

 with practical nurserymen and fruit-growers, 

 so as either to confirm my theory by facts, or 

 reject it. The result is, that my views, de- 

 rived, 1st. from the necessary laws of vege- 

 table physiology, and 2d, from the results of 

 some ten years experimenting on those 

 principles in my own garden and grounds, 

 have been entirely confirmed, by the expe- 

 rience of intelligent practical observers with 

 whom I have conversed, that I am willing 

 to suggest them for the serious considera- 

 tion of the editor and readers of the Horti- 

 culturist. I may, indeed, still be in the 

 wrong ; but if so, how shall I become right 

 unless through the light illuminated by the 



editor and able correspondents of the Hor- 

 ticulturist. Meantime your readers will al- 

 low me to write with the positiveness of one 

 fully convinced in his own mind, even 

 though those convictions may rest on a frail 

 foundation. 



My great object will be to prove that the 

 jacknife and handsaw of the nurseryman, 

 are by far the greatest enemies of all fruit 

 trees in this part of the west, and the produ- 

 cers of more hereditary and annual diseases 

 among our fruit trees than all other causes 

 combined. Their mischief is, of course, 

 effected, first, by their use in grafting, and 

 second, by their use in pruning. 



In order to set this matter in its true light, 

 it will be necessary to advert to the true 



FRINCIPLE OF VITALITY and LONGEVITY in all 



trees, and to the effects of soil and sun on 

 hereditary diseases and diseased growth. 

 1. Principles of vitality and longevi- 

 ty. — After all that has been said on the sub- 

 ject, I cannot resist the impression that the 

 essential elements of the highest degree of 

 both vital power and ot longevity, are 

 placed by nature in the seed, and the seed 

 alone. It alone of all other parts of the 

 tree, contains within itself, in the highest 

 degree of perfection, all parts of the em- 

 bryo tree, trunk, roots and top ; and these, 

 when produced from a healthy seed, have 

 both a vital power and a capacity for Ion- 



