XIV INTRODUCTION. 



prevent tlie pores from performing the action 

 for which nature intended them. 



Whether this neglect of fruit trees arises 

 from an ignorance of their wants, or from the 

 prevalent and erroneous supposition that a 

 tree once in place can take care of itself, I will 

 not discuss at present. It certainly should be 

 evident to every reflecting mind, that if five, 

 ten, or fifteen bushels of apples or pears are 

 taken from a tree annually, a diminution of 

 the abstracted ingredients of the soil must 

 occur in due time, unless an equivalent be 

 replaced in the form of manure ; and if not, 

 the result soon becomes unprofitable. 



My directions in this little work will be 

 brief, and devoted principally to the culture 

 of the pear for market purposes. In going 

 over the ground, should there be any conclu- 

 sions drawn that differ from the "laid-down 

 rules," I will state them, because my experi- 

 ence of over a dozen years in growing pears 

 for market has led me to accept them as 

 facts, and by stating them (in case I am cor- 

 rect), some may be prevented from repeating 

 the mistakes of which myself and many others 

 have tasted the bitter fruit. It is indeed sin- 

 gular, but nevertheless true, that there are 



