320 



facts which seem to shew that this is the case. Some observers, with much 

 orchard experience, think it likes best the more acid kinds of fruit, as the varieties 

 of the Crab, the " old Bromley," " Skyrme's kernel," " Hampton's delight," &c., 

 &c., and is much less common on the " Bitter-sweet," the " Royal Wilding," 

 Norman, French, and Italian fruits, and on " pot fruits " in general. Mr. Adams 

 has observed, that trees bearing white-fleshed apples are much more liable to be 

 attacked by Mistletoe, than those which bear yellow-fleshed apples : The former 

 correspond to the acid fruits, whilst the latter embraces nearly the whole of the 

 new, and French fruits of recent introduction, called Bitter-sweet apples, and 

 from which the best and mildest cider is made. 



I have myself observed in some orchards I chance to know well, that there is 

 scarcely a tree of the " Foxwhelp." " Old Cowarne red," or Cowarne Queening, 

 or Quining, that is not inhabited by the Mistletoe, and it signifies not whether the 

 tree may be old or young. This has been confirmed by several close observers, who 

 have also added that it is the same also with the " Redstreak," the '.'Old Styre," 

 the " Garter apple," the " Woodcock," and indeed with almost all the old Here- 

 fordshire apples. It is the general opinion, that Mistletoe is much less common 

 in the orchards of the French, Norman, and Italian fruits lately so much planted : 

 even here though, the viscum seems to make a selection, and will attack young 

 trees of the " upright Normandy," and " Italian apple." — It may be perhaps that 

 as most of the old sorts of apples named are rapidly dying out, (and the two last, 

 though recently introduced, may belong to the same category) this parasite, 

 following the example of parasites in general, as well animal as vegetable, takes 

 advantage of weakness, and thrives best, where it finds the least power of resis- 

 tance. This view moreover, is supported by the general observation of its greater 

 frequency on old and cankered trees, or on those growing badly from want of 

 drainage, or from some other cause. It is not by any means the case, however, 

 that all weak and decaying trees are attacked in orchards with plenty of Mistletoe 

 in them ; so that from the trees it will attack when young and strong on one side, 

 and those that resist it when weak and old on the other, there seems a promising 

 field for careful observation. Whoever may enter it, to find the secret for the 

 requirements for Mistletoe life, or Mistletoe predilections, will have in the first 

 place to master the confusion that prevails amongst the Apple trees themselves, 

 and the ignorance of their owners, as to their right names and virtues, and sorts, 

 and kinds, always excepting, however, the knowledge of the quality of the cider 

 they will make. * 



Next to the Apple tree, the Mistletoe certainly likes best the quick-growing 

 Poplars, taken generally as a class, and in particular the Black Italian, Canadian, 



* In many a Herefordshire Orchard, may be seen an old cankered tree or two, past 

 bearing fruit, or nearly so ; with most of its main branches dead, and what little remains of the 

 tree, overpowered with Mistletoe. A stranger passing by mieht take such trees as the ground- 

 work for some slashing remarks on the slovenliness of Herelordshire farmers m general. 1' ".'^ 

 good fortune should afterwards bring him within reach of the hospitality of the houfe. he w^iU 

 very probably, as he walks round the homestead after luncheon, be shown these very dilapidated 

 remains of trees, as the " pets " of the orchard. " That cider you thought so strong and good, 

 grew oil these trees 15 years ago" ; or they are some old favourite kind that grew the strongest 

 cider in davs gone by ; or made some wonderful quality in some particular year ; or they were 

 •■ my father's favourite trees, and will bide my time, I hope." Anyway, he will discover that 

 Herefordshire farmers can have amiafjle reasons for preserving old worn-out apple trees, and will 

 be more cautious in criticism for the future. 



