Vll 



renders the task of pointing out such 

 faults as are explained in the fol- 

 lowing pages, a great and arduous 

 undertaking. In justification for 

 this intrusion, I must however say, 

 that the bad state of our apple-trees, 

 at this time, is the general theme ; 

 for if we travel in a stage coach, or 

 mix with company at an inn, or 

 call at a farm-house, the conver- 

 sation is found generally to turn to 

 this point, and mostly ends with the 

 prediction, that there is no chance 

 of again seeing a general hit of fruit, 

 or that cider will ever again be made 

 in this country as it used to be; 

 and I have in several instances heard 

 farmers declare, that the land would 

 be more valuable if all that was thus 

 occupied, was turned to any other 

 mode of culture, for that the apple- 

 A 4 



