112 ENEMIES OF THE ORCHARD 



them all and cause its death. Should we take the 

 peach instead of the orange, the effect would be 

 measurably the same uuder a severer strain; but 

 this tree might preserve enough of its cells under the 

 bark, which is the throne of life of all trees, to not 

 only preserve its life but enable it to overcome, in a 

 measure, the injury and become a valuable, pro- 

 ductive tree, while the inner wood remains badly 

 discolored. Again, take the apple instead of the 

 peach ; and we may have the same result, for there is 

 as great a difference in hardiness between different 

 varieties of the apple as there is between the ten- 

 derest apples and the hardiest peaches. 



It is also known that freezing, under some con- 

 ditions will cause the rupture when under others, 

 much severer cold is harmless. It matters not 

 how the tree is propagated, the effect will be the 

 same and there is no treatment known that will 

 entirely prevent it. 



There is a practical view of it, however, and if 

 we follow the best course that can be marked out) 

 there will be little loss arising from it. The first 

 precaution is to select such trees as are known to 

 be hardy in the locality, and after this to give them 

 such care as will enable them to mature their 

 growth, and fortify themselves in every way against 

 the attacks of the coming winter. To teach the 

 planter how best to do this is the province of this 

 book. 



There are other causes, however, besides freez- 

 ing, which are to be avoided, one is pruning 



