20 On Peach Trees. 



and horticulturist, would plant the number, to which he 

 could attend, without interference with his other con- 

 cerns. He might keep up a constant succession, by 

 setting out a few every year. Our grain, and garden 

 plants in general, require renewal annually ; and peach 

 trees require no more trouble. A tree with very little 

 attention, will produce three or four crops. Its growth 

 is quick ; and it may be propagated easily, and come 

 to perfection, in any soil of tolerable staple. As the 

 older trees decay, or grow sickly, young and vigorous 

 trees will begin to bear. The method which I have lately 

 pursued is simple ; guards against the worm, and affords 

 me a plenty of fruit. I do not mean to discourage perse- 

 verance in experiments, which may yet succeed. We 

 must never pait with hope; though she seduces and 

 " cheats us o'er and o'er again." The ants of Grenada 

 were exterminated by a single tempest. 



Although I have had trees 20 years old, and I know 

 some of double that age, (owing probably to the indura- 

 tion of the bark rendering it impervious to the wasp, and 

 the strength acquired when they had survived early 

 misfortunes) yet, in general they do not live intolerable 

 health after bearing 4 or 5 crops. And being among 

 the most gummy, viscous, succulent and tender of our 

 fruit trees, they require from the earliest stages of their 

 growth miore labour and attention, than could be pro- 

 fitably applied to an extensive plantation. I have too 

 many to be sufficiently attended to ; but a number of 

 them, by their present appearance, warn me not to be 

 uneasy on that score. The shoots of the last season 

 %vere remarkably injured by the excesive drought; and 

 the extremities of many limbs are entirely dead. I 



