232 AX AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



many phenomena which neither of them, in my opinion, satisfac- 

 torily explain. The popular judgment in England seemed to 

 have accepted Knight's hypothesis. But while every body was 

 mourning over the degeneracy of old favorites, the utter neglect 

 or miserable mismanagement of their orchards seemed to me to 

 bear strong testimony to the correctness of the contrary theory. 



The practical deduction, it may be remarked, from either view, 

 does not greatly differ. By judicious management, the health, 

 vigor, and profit of a fruit-tree, which would otherwise, after a 

 certain time, pine away and die, may be greatly extended, if not 

 made permanent ; and trees which are already failing from de- 

 crepitude or disease, may be restored. On the other hand, if 

 trees are planted in unhealthy positions, insufficiently supplied 

 with those materials that are necessary to the formation of strong, 

 compact wood ; if they are cruelly mutilated, crowded too close 

 together, etc., they will not only be feeble and unproductive, but 

 will be particularly liable to the attacks of vermin, disease, and 

 parasites, and, in their weak condition, will soon yield their life 

 to these enemies. Moreover, the insects which are bred in them 

 will extend their ravages to surrounding trees, the seeds from 

 their parasites will be scattered over the neighborhood, and the 

 disease which is generated in them may be indefinitely extended 

 among their species. 



The most common causes of disease, decay, and decline of a 

 fruit-tree, which it is in the power of the orchardist, in a great 

 degree, to control, are these : the exhaustion from the soil of those 

 materials which are its necessary food ; the attacks of vermin, 

 and the growth of moss or parasites ; the loss of large limbs or 

 other severe wounds ; too great exposure of the trunks to the 

 sun ; too rapid and succulent growth from the stimulus of heat or 

 exciting manures ; and an impervious subsoil, which will allow 



