102 PEACH. 



have been known to keep as long as the most durable tim- 

 ber; while daily experience shows, that corrupt animal and 

 vegetable substances, not only become a prey to the most 

 noxious insects and reptiles, but will generate them in incal 

 culable numbers. 



It is also evident, that a tree deprived of its functions or 

 means of growing luxuriantly, is in a similar situation to a 

 diseased animal. If disease be not checked before the 

 juices of the tree become putrid, it will not only die, but will 

 contaminate the earth in which it is planted, to the destruc- 

 tion of its neighbouring inmates of the garden or field. All 

 experienced nurserymen admit this to be the case with dis- 

 eased Peach trees," ami s.ome have actually abandoned their 

 Pe^cb * 01 cbarcb, and choSen fresh ground for new planta- 

 tions. * 



It is precisely the same with smaller vegetable plants. A 

 diseased Cabbage, for instance, by its excremental and cor- 

 rupt juices being spent in the ground, will render the culti- 

 vation of the same or allied species a casualty ; and daily 

 observation teacheth, that young and thrifty plants often 

 fall a prey to worms and reptiles which were generated by 

 a previous crop. 



It is, moreover, evident that all those enemies of the veget- 

 able family feed on the same descriptions of vegetable mat- 

 ter which first generated them ; hence the Peach insects 

 feed on its fruit in embryo, as well as in a state at, and even 

 beyond, perfection ; the Cabbage worms prey on plants of 

 the same genera or species; and I have no doubt but the 

 cotton worms prefer the same description of vegetable mat- 

 ter which gave them birth, and that when these insects and 

 reptiles cannot obtain the parts which are the most palatable 

 to them, or congenial to their nature, they will feed upon 

 diseased trees, plants, or any other matter which contain 

 similar juices or nutriment. I again repeat, that the best 

 security against their depredations is health and soundness. 

 A good sound healthy tree, planted and cultivated upon cor- 



