FRUIT TREES AND THEIR ENEMIES 159 



diseases that are in the main attributable to 

 accident or the attacks of insect and fungus 

 pests. With the apple, pear, and plum, branch- 

 shedding and hollow stems are not nearly so 

 prevalent as in the case of our larger-growing 

 trees, and this mainly owing to the smaller 

 size to which they attain and the less likelihood 

 of their getting injured during stormy weather. 

 Damage to orchard trees is, however, apt to be 

 brought about by the weight of fruit causing 

 the branches to get torn from the stem, by 

 careless picking of the fruit, and not in- 

 frequently through farm stock grazing amongst 

 the trees. Neglect of timely pruning has in 

 such cases been the direct cause of decay and 

 hollows in both stem and branch. The attacks 

 of insects and fungi are, however, most to be 

 dreaded in the case of fruit trees, some trouble- 

 some pests being the canker, apple scab, 

 winter moth, and woolly aphis or American 

 blight. Several of the insects and fungi which 

 attack fruit trees do considerable damage in 

 our woods and plantations, and are fully de- 

 scribed in the chapter, " Insect Attacks and 

 their Remedies." 



