’ 
88 On Fruit and Fruit Trees. 
before, that the circumstance had been noticed by any 
person except myself. My apples most generally fell off 
in the same way before they attained maturity: on ex- 
amining them, they appeared sound on the outside ; but 
on cutting them open, there was a dark soft streak in ~ 
all such as had fallen off, some depth within the skin ;. 
which soon turned toa rot: this led me to gather such 
as had not fallen off the trees, sooner than I otherwise 
would ; I took all my former precautions to save them ~ 
through the winter but in vain, they all rotted before 
spring ; the decay began in the same dark streak below 
the skin. 
» It is a singular circumstance which I have not known 
before, neither can I account for the cause, unless some- 
thing singular in the season.—I wish to hear the sen- 
timents and observations of gentlemen in different parts 
of the state, on the subject. 
I consider the best mode of raising fruit, particularly 
apples a primary object for our citizens in general, and 
as knowledge on the subject can only be obtained from 
observations and a communication of sentiments from 
different parts. 
I am gentlemen 
Your friend respectiully, 
SAMUEL PRESTON. 
Dr. James MeEasr. 
