xii) 
fhrubs: they yield a great quantity of rich milk: and their fkins are 
very ufeful.* ‘The Angora goat, whofe fine gloffy hair is amaterial of the 
mohair, may alfothrive as well here as in Sweden, where he was intro-. 
duced by the>patriotic Ahftromer. | 
Good orchards eminently unite the ufeful and pleafing; gratifying. 
through the greater part of the year, the tafte, feent, and fight. Horti-. 
culture was an early objeét in America, and has made confiderable pro-. 
grefs. At prefent our firft care fhould be, to prevent diftempers of the 
fruit-trees, of late become very alarming—Peach-trees, have till within 
20 or 30 years been very flourifhing » fome Englifh writers relate with 
amazement that the Americans fatten their hogs on this fruit, which is 
fo coftly in the North of Europe; and it is true, that many common 
farms abounded fo far in a promifcous colle€tion of better and worfe. 
But at prefent the peach-trees are few, and generally in a fickly conditi- 
on, through the greater part of the country. Of this one principal caufe 
is a fly, that depofits her eggs within the ftem near the ground, which 
producea great number-of worms, who quickly confume all the lower 
bark. Moft kinds of plum-trees are liable to decay, and the fruit is de- 
{troyed by a fpecies of fly; but the ravages of this infect have been 
for along time. Pear-trees have never indeed flourifhed well, but of 
jate far lefs: fome afcribe the blights of them to lightning, and hang 
pieces of iron in the branches, to*anfwer the purpofe of electric rods. 
In fome places lately cherry and apple-trees have been attacked by va- 
rious diftempers, which caufe the fruit to rot, and the limbs to decay in 
rapid fucceffion till the tree dies. This grangrene in fruit trees bears 
a {trong refemblance to the mortification of members in the human body; 
the corruption fpreads quickly over a large limb, and amputation is the 
only prefervative of the tree yet known. ‘The lofs of peach-orchards is 
a confiderable difadvantage, as. their early bloom is the principal beauty of 
fpring ; and the fruit is not only very pleafing both green and preferved, 
but alfo yields by diftilling an agreeable and wholefome liquor, well 
known by the name of peach-brandy. ‘The apple-orchards. claim a folici- 
tous care merely as great ornaments of the country; much more as they 
fupply 2 great article of dict anda falutary beverage equal to feveral fpe- 
cies of wine. We want an American treatife on fruit-trees, which would 
_ fhow how far the beft Englifh authors are applicable to diverfe parts of 
the United States; give a full account of all the beft fruits here culti 
. vated, 
* Their mifchievous agility in climbing is impaired by cutting the finews of the hindfret. 
