NOTES ON THE DISEASES OF FRUIT TREES IN THE WEST. 



Some of our pomologists complain, that certain varieties of fruit are not so good now 

 as when they were little boys. Perhaps the diiference is in the taste and judgment of the 

 boy and those of the man. 



I believe that a sound healthy graft, taken from a vigorous tree in perfect health — work- 

 ed on a seedling stock of the same genera, grown in similar soil and climate — thus repro- 

 duced for ages, will never degenerate. That the degeneracy complained of, is in the soil 

 and cultivation — not in the tree or its fruit. A. Marshall. 



West Chester, Chester County/, Pa. 



NOTES ON THE DISEASES OF FRUIT TREES IN THE WEST. 



BY PROFESSOR TURNER, ILLINOIS COLLEGE. 



Dear Sir — I confess my delinquencies as a correspondent; but I have been unusually 

 engaged this past fell in attending Institutes and delivering lectures on the " Education 

 of the Industrial Classes," in neighboring counties, as well as in an unusual pressure of 

 business at home. When I have pushed the matter a little farther in my own state, I 

 shall probably have a word to say, with your leave, through the Horticulturist on this 

 theme. 



I see favorable notices of your work on " Country Houses," on all sides, and I have 

 never known a book in the west receive so universal a commendation from all classes and 

 professions. As there was, for some time, no other copy to be had here, I loaned mine 

 until I was obliged positively to refuse to loan it any more, to keep it from being worn out 

 by others. 



There are no less than five houses built, or being built, after j^our models in this village 

 already, all taken from this book; and I think when completed, they will be almost the 

 only tasteful houses in the place. For myself, I may say I expected a good work, but so 

 far as the architecture of houses is concerned, it is at least much more in accordance with 

 true principles of taste, and much better adapted to meet the wants of the country, and 

 the age, than I could have believed forthcoming in the present state of both the art and 

 the science in this country. And for this, as well as for much else, we Americans owe you 

 our sincere and hearty thanks. I think it ought to be placed on the table of every man 

 who has a family, in the United States, and if so, it would do more to improve their taste, 

 and indirectly to form their morals and manners, than four times the same money expend- 

 ed in the ordinarj' methods of teaching the " young idea how to shoot." It is a book, 

 too, of first lessons, regarding the very place where all instructions should begin — "home." 

 But I must proceed to my annual report; and first — 



Apples. — There has been throughout this state, an unparalleled blight in the tops of 

 apple trees. At first I thought it was the Scolytas Pyri, or some similar insect. But I 

 have never been able to obtain the least proof of the existence of an insect, or to find any 

 marks of his ravages whatever, and many facts induce me to think it is not an insect. 



Nor was there any unusual drouth or severity of winter that could have produced it. 

 The winter was so mild and favorable here, that tender shrubs never stood it better, and 

 the ground at the time of the blight, was unusually moist for that season of the year. 

 The springs were higher than they are now, or have been since. 



deed, the season has varied from ordinary seasons so far as I know, but in one 

 pect. It was generallj^ quite cool until Jul •, after which we had an unusual num 



