DECLINE OF PLANTS. 



stance, we have roots of various kinds on the same tree; large woody roots and delicate 

 fibres. Branches and shoots of various degrees of vigor, and of various purpose in the 

 economy of the plant. Buds, varying in form, purpose, position and force. 



These, all, not only in nomenclature, but in their general and particular influence and 

 relative connection, must be carefully studied. 



Again, we come to the study of the different characters presented by different genera 

 and species of trees; differences in their general nature, modes of growth and of bearing, 

 as for instance, between the apple and the peach; the pear and the cherry, &c. This is a 

 most important branch of the study, for it teaches us an all important sense of this discri- 

 mination in the treatment of trees. For instance, the peach tree, unlike the apple, the 

 pear and many others, produces its fruit on yearling shoots — that is, the fruit buds are 

 formed during their first season's existence, and blossom and bear the next. This at once 

 suggests the necessity of having always a good supply of healthy annual shoots. In our 

 climate, and in most others, art must come to the aid of nature, in order to ensure this 

 succession of good growth, and hence most authors recommend, and cultivators practice, 

 a sort of pruning which has been termed " shortening-in," which takes away some of the 

 fruit buds and the points of the shoots, and throws the forces of the tree into the strong 

 wood buds towards the base, and these give us strong shoots for the next season, that we 

 could not otherwise obtain. 



Unless the mode of growth and bearing of this tree is studied, this operation will not be 

 understood, and hence a very intelligent gentleman, in a recent article on the " theory of 

 pruning," calls this "absurd philosophy," because it excites only one of the forces of 

 the tree. 



If he will take the whole subject into calm and careful consideration, he will find it not 

 so absurd. But even after the general differences that exist between genera and species, 

 have been studied, there are still a multitude of conditions in varieties of the same species, 

 that must be observed well in pruning. For instance, all pears do not grow alike; some 

 varieties are low, stout, much disposed to branch, whilst others are just the opposite; 

 some are disposed to bear young, whilst others are tardy; and some productive to a fault, 

 others the reverse; these different forms and habits must be met with appropriate treat- 

 ment; the mode of pruning that would exactly suit one, might be ruinous to another. It 

 is the case in all species, but he who has mastered the general principles will not experience 

 much difiiculty in adapting the treatment to the case. I hope to be able in a short time, if 

 some one more competent does not take it up, to present a classification of varieties of fruit 

 trees, with reference to this last point. P. B. 



Ronhester, January, 1852. 



THE PROGRESSIVE DECLINE OF THE VITAL POWERS OF A PLANT. 



BY JOHN TOWNLEY, MOUNDVILLE, WIS. 



We commend the following interesting and valuable article, to the notice of our read- 

 ers. Ed. 



A. J. Downing, Esq. — Dear Sir: When considering various explanations which had 

 been advanced to account for the disease of the potato, known as the " curl," I have been 

 led to inquire whether varieties of plants, as they become old, do not afford other evidence, 

 that stated in my previous paper, of a progressive diminution of vital power, lead 

 functional derangement, debility, and death. 



