HORTICUIiTURAL NOTES FROM MICHIGAN. 



their vigor unimpaired until the whole space was covered, the fruit-bearing force was kept 

 in abej-ance b}' removing the embrj'o fruitlets as soon as visible. The cultivator, howev- 

 er, soon discovered, that even within the comparatively placid waters through which the 

 humble tiller of the soil passes in the voyage of life, a Scylla not unfrequently has its cor- 

 responding Chary bdis; for the very means adopted to enable these plants to avoid a short 

 coming of the ability to cover so much space, drove them into that habit of over-luxuri- 

 ance which generally swallows up the fruit-bearing force. Many of the leading branches 

 attained the size of a man's thumb, and I recollect some roots exceeded thirteen feet in 

 length, beside the filamentose spongiole, too delicate to be gotten up entire. It is the after 

 treatment in this case, which I think suggestive of principle and instruction— M'hich was, 

 to prune the vines much after the fashion of the grape crop, removing unnecessary laterals, 

 and after allowing only two fruits to the largest branches, to prune off the leading shoot 

 a few joints beyond the last fruit, whilst the fruits were quite }'oung. The result was, an 

 average yield to each plant, of between thirty and thirty-five fruits, of fair size and good 

 quality, a yield by many thought remarkable. 



Appertaining to this third class, there is a "vexed question," about which a few sug- 

 gestions may not be inappropriate, which is this — ■" what is the proper time for heading 

 back these leading shoots, when the design of the operator is to benefit the fruit crop?" 

 According to some authorities, it would seem quite immaterial, since they direct amputa- 

 tion " when the branches become inconvenient!}' long." Most authors fix upon a date 

 subsequent to the " setting of thsfniit,'' and but a single writer within the limits of my 

 reading, has spoken of a date " anterior to the expansion of the bloom." It appears to 

 me, if external symptoms are to be consulted b}' the operator for his guidance, that the 

 degree of luxuriance indicated by the wood growth, during the first few days after the 

 embrj'O fruits become visible, should be regarded as the measure, both of the necessity of 

 amputation, and of the danger of delaying the process; and tliat in a case where the wood 

 growth was so rapid as to form a branch eight to ten feet in length ere the expansion of 

 the bloom, amputation delayed to that period, would be pregnant with greater danger to 

 the fruit crop, than entire omission of the process in a case of feeble wood growth. 



L. Young. 



Louisville, Ky., March, 1852. 



HORTICULTURAL NOTES FROM MICHIGAN. 



BY WM. ADAIR, DETROIT. 



A. J. Downing, Esq. — Dear Sir: Your correspondent, Mr. Lewis F. Allen, in the 

 March number of the Horticulturist, says " he would give a trifle to know if the old 

 French Pear trees on the Detroit river were ever struck with the blight," and complains 

 very justly, that cultivators in this quarter are so dilatory in giving the results of their 

 experience. Being far more familiar with the horticultural implements than the pen, it is 

 with some degree of diffidence that I say any thing on the subject, when there are so many 

 much more competent to do it justice. 



In this vicinity there is nothing of the blight known, and we are told that " where io-- 

 norance is bliss, 'twere folly to be wise." The old Pear trees line the banks of the river 

 for several miles, both above and below the city, and are still as healthy and vigorous as 

 ative trees in the forest; and notwithstanding their immense size, being fifty or sixty 

 h, and from two to three feet in diameter, they are sound and solid to the heart, 



