GO CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



ty of the former* In fact, it has been ascertained by 

 experience and observation, that apples, pears, peach- 

 es, &c. attain to their highest perfection only when 

 the soil about the roots is kept open, and frequently 

 manured. It is by the chemical combination of air, 

 warmth, and moisture, that the growth and vigour of 

 plants and trees are essentially promoted and main- 

 tained. The process of nature is greatly assisted by 

 such substances as cause the greatest degree of fermen- 

 tation, when buried in the earth. Hence, all animal 

 substances, from the great degree of fermentation cre- 

 ated by their dissolution, will be found productive of 

 the greatest utility. Among these, are dead animal 

 bodies, horns, hoofs, bones, when reduced to fragments 

 or powder, leather, shells, &c. To which may be add- 

 ed hair, wool, and woollen rags. These, applied to 

 the roots, and a top dressing of swamp or pond mud, 

 chip oi\ compost manure, annually, or once in two 

 years, will produce surprising effects, and the farmer 

 will realize ample compensation by the increased quan- 

 tity and improved quality of his crop. As an extra- 

 ordinary instance of resuscitating an old worthless ap- 

 ple tree, by the application of manure, I quote from 

 the Dom/Ency. a statement, which appeared in the 

 Salem Register, of May, 1802. "In my garden is an 

 apple tree", which about the year 1763, sprouted from 

 the root of a former tree : it now girts three feet six 

 inches. From 1784 to 1790, 1 observed it to be bar- 

 ren, and a cumberer of the ground ; year after year, 

 being the prey of caterpillars, and exhibiting the con- 

 stant appearance of innumerable warts within the out- 

 side bark, which at the time, I suspected was natural 

 instinct in the insect for the propagation of its kind. 

 In the spring of 1793, I tried an experiment for giv- 

 ing it new life, as follows : very early in the season, I 

 directed my gardener with a hoe to cleanse the out- 

 side bark of such excressences as might bear the ope- 



