On Peach Trees, 17 



fruits in this part of the country, are uncertain in pro- 

 duct ; and have declined, in quantity and quality, in a 

 degree not formerly experienced. I have often observ- 

 ed, that in bad fruit years, the seasons were unhealthy 

 for animals. Insects and their larva, or catterpillars, 

 and other enemies to fruit, abound in such seasons. 

 The products of the earth seem to be more favoured at 

 one period, and in different stages of the settlement of 

 our country-, than at others. Advantages or misfor- 

 tunes, merely local, have their influence. Some are 

 perfected in old settlements ; others thrive only when 

 the earth is recently reclaimed from the wilderness of 

 nature. 



Of the peach, I have 32 varieties. Mr. Coxe, of 

 Burlington, has double that number. But those I have 

 are sufficient to enable me to form a general idea. I find 

 some less exposed than others, to misfortune and decay. 

 It would therefore be desirable, to mark, and cultivate 

 those most commonly, in which the most success could 

 be counted on. Mr. Cooper has been successful, on 

 this plan, in other products. Let him, and other curi- 

 ous cultivators, practise on this suggestion. 



I have failed in many things, in which others are said 

 to have succeeded. Straw and bass, or paper, suiTound- 

 ing the tree, from the root, at all distances, from 6 in- 

 ches, to 3 or 4 feet — white washing, painting, urinous 

 applications, brine, soot, lime, frames filled with sand, 

 oil, tar, turpentine, sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol, ni- 

 trous mixtures, and almost every kind of coating. I 

 ruined several trees, by cutting them down, and per- 

 mitting the stump to throw up ncAV shoots, and branch 

 at pleasure. All teguments kept the exsudation from 



