the subject philosophically, he would 

 answer, that it was an organic body pos- 

 sessing life, and, in a certain degree, 

 motion ; tliat it was composed of vessels, 

 through which circulated a liquid similar 

 to the blood in animals, and, in fact, was 

 in a great degree so nearly allied to ani- 

 mal existence, as to be liable to disease 

 when any interruption took place in the 

 circulation of this fluid, and which might 

 in some instances be produced by what 

 would appear, at first, but trifling in- 

 juries. 



Although I am far from thinking that 

 this subject will ever be fully considered 

 by the persons who are the most inter- 

 ested in the growth of fruit-trees, or 

 that the theory I have hinted will ever 

 be perfectly believed ; yet I will endea- 

 vour to illustrate it farther, as it may be 

 the means of convincing some of my 

 readers how necessary it is to pay more 

 than the usual attention that this interest- 

 ing subject receives in the present day, 

 being fully persuaded that nothing but a 

 thorough investigation can ever lead us 

 B 2 



