206 THE APPLE CULTUHItiT. 



self, but was formed by the tree in the preceding year. To 

 produce and sustain this cellular enlargement, there has 

 been stored, the previous year, a large share of nutriment 

 in the buds and in other parts of the trees. This nutri- 

 ment must not only be sufficient to feed the embryo leaves, 

 but also be sufficient to produce the small warty excres- 

 cences the rootlets and spongioles. These new leaves and 

 spongioles are the tree's laboratory. The first growth of 

 leaves and spongioles was made, with the exception of 

 moisture, wholly out of the materials that were stored by 

 the tree during the growth of the previous year. When 

 these vegetable stores are in sufficient supply to do this, 

 and nourish the fruit-germs also, then we shall hear little 

 about imperfect fertilization. On the other hand, had the 

 food been consumed the previous year, by ripening the 

 over-crop of fruit, or by making a very succulent growth, 

 then the tree would not have a sufficient amount of plant- 

 food to perform its three-fold office in the production of 

 leaves, roots with their spongioles, and fruit. In this con- 

 dition, a part of the leaf, and a larger part of all the fruit- 

 buds, yield up their nourishment, which goes to the pro- 

 duction of root and leaf growth. The tree, therefore, is 

 barren of fruit for the summer, its whole growth being re- 

 quired to recuperate its own vigor. Such trees bloom free- 

 ly, and then cast their blossoms. When this occurs, unin- 

 formed persons often attribute it to want of fertilization, or 

 suppose that the rain must have washed away the pollen. 

 The true remedy is, adopt the means recommended, p. 167, 

 for the purpose of promoting fruitfulness. 



Want of Protection in Winter. We are aware that round 

 about New York and Boston, and other localities, where 

 orchards rest in the very bosom of the sea, the pomological 

 authorities scout at the idea of protection. In many local- 

 ities in Southern latitudes, fruit-trees do not require any 



