THE MISTLETOE IN HEREFORDSHIRE. 367 
occurring in moderation, injures neither the tree itself nor the fruit it 
bears, as used to be thought. It is not therefore pruned out so much 
as would otherwise be the case. Mr. Edwin Lees indeed thinks that 
the tendency in Apple-trees to form knots in the wood arises from 
over-abundance of sap, and that the Mistletoe relieves the tree, as cup- 
ping would do: a view so unphysiological, that I prefer the opinion of 
Dr. Harley, that the presence of the Mistletoe causes an increased 
quantity of sap to be drawn up for its supply, and thus the tree would 
not be much injured, so long as the soil was not exhausted. 
Whether the Viscum album shows any preference for any particular 
sorts of Apples, is a point requiring further investigation. Some facts 
seem to show that this is the case. Some think it likes best the more 
acid kinds, as the varieties of the Crab, the ** Old Bromley," “ Skyrme's 
Kernel," ** Hampton’s Delight,” etc. etc., and is less common on the 
“ Bitter-Sweet,” -the ** Royal Wilding,” the Norman, French, and 
Italian fruits, and on “ pot fruits" in general. Mr. Adams has ob- 
served, that trees bearing white-fleshed Apples are much more liable to 
be attacked than those bearing yellow-fleshed. The former correspond 
to the acid ones, whilst the latter embraces nearly the whole of the new 
and French fruits, called Bitter-sweet Apples, and from which the best 
and mildest cider is made. In some orchards, which E chance to know 
well, I observed that there is scarcely a tree, old or young, of the 
** Foxwhelp," “ Old Cowarne Red, or Cowarne Queening, or Quining,” 
that is not inhabited by the Mistletoe. This has been confirmed by 
close observers, who have added that it is the same with the ** Red- 
streak,” the “ Old Styre,” the “Garter Apple," the “ Woodcock ;” 
indeed with almost all the old Herefordshire apples. It is the general 
opinion, that Mistletoe is much less common in the orchards of the 
French, Norman, and Italian fruits lately so mueh planted : even here, 
though, the Viscwm seems to make a selection, and will attack young 
trees of the “ Upright Normandy” and “ Italian Apple.” Perhaps,.as 
most of the old sorts are rapidly dying out (and the two last, though 
recently introduced, may belong to the same category), this parasite, 
as parasites in general, animal as well as vegetable, thrives best where 
it finds the least power of resistance. This view is supported by its 
greater frequency on old and cankered trees, or on those growing badly 
from want of drainage, or some other cause. However, all weak and 
decaying trees are not attacked; so that from the trees it will attack 
