15 



been elicited, but that most desirable end, the pre- 

 vention of their devastating effects, has been but par- 

 tially attained. ' It is a consummation devoutly to 

 be wished,' that all who are interested would unite 

 their eftbrts in the endeavor to arrest the further pro- 

 gress of this scourge of our fruit trees. The energies 

 of the whole agricultural world could not be concen- 

 trated in, and applied to a more important purpose 

 connected with the cultivation of fruits. Should any 

 individual be so fortunate as to make the discovery 

 that shall prove an infallible antidote to the incursions 

 of this withering and blighting infliction, he will 

 have the proud and enviable satisfaction of contribu- 

 ting much to the prosperity of his country, and will 

 richly deserve to be numbered among its benefactors. 

 It must be obvious to those who have devoted their 

 attention to the cultivation of fruits, that the same 

 varieties will thrive better in one quality of soil, than 

 in another. This is undoubtedly true even of some 

 of the most hardy, and more especially of those of 

 the more tender and delicate kinds. The russetting 

 apple affords an example of this ameliorating effect, 

 and will furnish a satisfactory elucidation of this po- 

 sition. The most perfect are those which are pro- 

 duced upon elevated or dry soils interspersed with 

 rocks; while those which grow in low and moist 

 lands, possess less of the distinguishing traits of that 

 variety. I do not state this so much as the result of 

 my own practical observations, as from those of more 

 experienced cultivators. Such being the fact in re- 

 lation to one sort of fruit, may it not be rationally in- 



