GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 19 



ing all cases. Trees are often said to be 

 upright, spreading, open, close-headed, round- 

 topped, or irreg^dar. Beyond this, one has 

 to depend largely on his own ingenuity to in- 

 vent apt terms of description for particular 

 cases. 



The productivity of the variety is usually 

 mentioned as a characteristic of the tree. 

 Convenience is the best justification for this 

 custom. Thus, under this head, one would 

 say that Elberta peach is prolific, coming early 

 into bearing ; that General Hand plum is a 

 very light and late cropper ; that Baldwin 

 apple bears abundantly in alternate years, etc. 



The hardiness of a tree and the degree in 

 which it is subject to disease ought to be en- 

 tered here. Hardiness is generally under- 

 stood to mean the ability to withstand winter 

 damage, but it may mean a variety of things. 

 The man who uses the term ought to be 

 " fully persuaded in his own mind," as Paul 

 said of the meats offered to idols. The sus- 

 ceptibility of trees to disease is often difficult 

 to arrive at, but it is a very important practi- 

 cal observation, and ought not to be omitted 

 if it can be ascertained. So we would say of 

 Roseau apple, very hardy ; of the Peen-to 



