AND ITS ADAPTABILITY TO LATITUDES. 35 



the summer and fall, been favored with all the best 

 conditions, those that the tree would if it could 

 select for itself, such as just rainfall enough and not 

 too much, proper cultivation, a season just long 

 enough to thoroughly mature its every part, but not 

 so late and warm as to induce a second growth. 

 With these conditions, any tree, of whatever kind, 

 would surely be in the best possible condition to 

 resist the extremes of heat and cold through which 

 it must pass before it can again fortify itself for 

 another siege of winter war. Many of these condi- 

 tions we can control or supply, and it is our duty 

 if we expect to deserve success to control or supply 

 them so far as is in our power, and is practicable. 

 It is much the same with at ^e as with a domestic 

 animal. Some are more hardy than others, but 

 none are quite capable of taking care of themselves 

 in this climate without man's assistance, and who- 

 soever plants a tree under the impression that he 

 has performed his whole duty and has nothing 

 further to do but to wait till it bears fruit and then 

 gather it is only wasting his time and sowing the 

 seeds of disappointment. 



Why will farmers and tree planters persist in this 

 most blameworthy course? They give no such 

 treatment to any other crop, nor to the care of 

 their domestic animals. Surely a good, sound and 

 productive orchard is very desirable, and among 

 the most profitable acres of the entire farm. 



Happily the neglect of this industry is rapidly 

 decreasing; but is still very much too prevalent. 



