PEACff. 



over a thousand years ; and -that its timber, cut in proper 

 season, is supposed to be in durability, commensurate with 

 the age of the growiifg tree. It is also recorded in history ^ 

 that animal subjects preserved on the Egyptian principle, 

 have been known to keep as long as the most durable 

 timber; while daily experience shows, that corrupt animal 

 and vegetable substances, not only become a prey to the 

 most noxious insects and reptiles, but will generate them in 

 incalculable numbers. 



-It is also evident, that a tree deprived of its functions or 

 means of growing luxuriantly, is in a similar situation to a 

 diseased animal. If disease be not checked before the 

 juices of the tree become putrid, it will not only die, but 

 will contaminate the earth in which it is planted, to the 

 destruction of its neighbouring inmates of the garden or 

 field. All experienced nurserymen admit this to be the case 

 with diseased Peach trees, and some have actually aban- 

 doned their Peach orchards, and chosen fresh ground for 

 new plantations. 



It is precisely the same with "smaller vegetable plants^ 

 A diseased Cabbage, for instance, by its excremental and 

 corrupt juices being spent in the ground, will render the 

 cultivation of the same or allied species a casualty; and daily 

 observation teacheth, that young and thrifty plants often 

 fall a prey to worms and reptiles which were generated by 

 a previous crop. 



It is moreover evident, that all those enemies of the 

 vegetable family feed on the same descriptions of vegetable 

 matter which first generated them ; hence the Peach insects 

 feed on its fruit in embryo, as well as in a state at, and even 

 beyond perfection ; the Cabbage worms prey on plants of 

 the same genera or species ; and I have no doubt but the 

 cotton worms prefer the same description of vegetable matter 

 which gave them birth, and that when these insects and 

 reptiles cannot obtain the parts which are the most palatable 

 to them, or congenial to their nature, they will feed upon 

 diseased trees, plants, or any other matter which contain 

 similar juices or nutriment. I again repeat, that the best 

 security against their depredations is health and soundness. 



