JF^lve Sti)mne7's in the Zand of J^lowet^s. 297 



only our most thrifty growing trees, either in early spring, when vegetation first 

 becomes active, or after a period of drought and partial stagnation of vegetation, 

 when abundant rains suddenly force out a luxuriant growth ; moderately vigorous 

 trees are never attacked. It is often noticed in very vigorous trees that the bark 

 of the trunk is split longitudinally; whenever this is apparent, such trees are always 

 free from this form of blight, as the pressure upon the cellular and vascular tissues 

 has been relieved. From a series of experiments commenced in 1857, it is demon- 

 strated, that whenever trees whose bark had been longitudinally incised and divided, 

 never showed any signs of this form of blight. 



Peculiar methods of culture undoubtedly influence the causes of blight ; but upon 

 this there exists a wide range of opinion. Clean culture and repeated stirring of the 

 soil, while it may in many instances be conducive to most beneficial results, will 

 often cause a total destruction of a pear orchard. In seasons of zymotic fungoid 

 or fire blight, highly cultivated trees fall early victims to the scourge, while those 

 cultivated in grass with an annual top dressing of manure usually escape the 

 contagion. 



The third form of blight caused by mechanical action is seldom found in orchards 

 where the soil is left undisturbed, but is so common in gardens or where the trees 

 are thoroughly worked, that it has become only a question of time for the entire 

 destruction of one's orchard. 



' In the Southern States this form of blight is the most destructive, as it has 

 become endemic to all highly cultivated soils. Wherever the land is allowed to 

 become coated with grass or weeds, but kept cut down every few weeks and an 

 annual top dressing of manure is applied, the result has been most satisfactory in 

 an abundant crop of fruit and an almost entire freedom from blight. 



P. J. Berckmans, 



JOSIAH HOOPES, 



Committee. 



Five Summers in tlie Land of Flowers. 



BY OLIVER TAYLOR. 



AN article in this month's issue of The Horticulturist, by Al Fresco, I 

 consider calculated to mislead, by failing to tell the whole truth and give the 

 reasons therefor. That I can tell all the truth on the subject I don't pretend, but 

 what little I have learned I feel it my duty I should honestly tell, and in so doing I 

 desire to be distinctly understood, first, that I am not interested nor endeavoring to 

 injure any land speculation in the State, and secondly, that I am naturally a 

 sanguine person, and thirdly, I have been engaged in horticultural pursuits all my 

 life, and that is not much short of one-half a century ; nor do I expect to make my 

 home in other northern climes because 'tis there easier to accumulate a fortune. 

 Orange growing in Florida has been the subject of much speculation, and to the 



