1847.] Blight in Fruit Trees. 79 



selection of varieties. Among these, we have never known the 

 long red or merino to be atiected. Indeed it would seem that red 

 potatoes have not been so much effected as the white. 



In conclusion, we wish to repeat our request that our readers 

 will take the trouble to inquire whether the cause of the potato 

 disease may not be owing to the high temperature of the medium 

 in which they are necessarily confined while growing. When the 

 ground is well defended by vines, is there not less disease, and is 

 it not a very material point to protect the earth from excessive 

 heat by the preservation of the vines by a mode of cultivation 

 which is calculated to give strength and ability to resist the cause 

 of disease we have referred to. And is it not also true that in 

 cool seasons, those particularly which are not visited with days of 

 sharp, sultry heat, have not been entirely free from disease. It is, 

 we believe, agreeable to observation, that cool and rather wet 

 seasons have been favorable for large and healthy crops; those, 

 for example, which are not favorable for corn. If this is true, 

 then it will be admitted probably, that there is some show of rea- 

 son in the hypothesis put forth in the foregoing remarks. It is 

 evident, too^ that the cause, whatever it may be, must be one 

 which is connected with the general phenomena of nature. On 

 other grounds it is quite difficult to reconcile its general preva- 

 lence with local or partial causes. Heat is a general cause, and 

 though it is not necessary that it should be oppressively hot in 

 Ireland and New England at the same time, it is clearly w'ithin 

 the bounds of possibility. These remarks, however, partake too 

 much of the character of conjecture, and are not, therefore, at all 

 important, except they may call forth the thoughts and reflections 

 of careful observers. 



BLIGHT IN FRUIT TREES. 



This is a theme which may be made as prolific in opinion and 

 theories as the potato disease. Its cause is just as inscrutable. 

 So in regard to remedies; we know of no course of treatment 

 which can prevent its occurrence, or stay its progress. Observa- 

 tion and experience, however, have determined one thing: that 

 it is better to leave the dead branch upon the tree, than to at- 

 tempt to arrest its progress by a free removal of its branches. 

 Experience proves, too, that no evil is to be apprehended from a 

 poisoned sap by which the disease may be extended. We take 

 great pleasure in alluding to the experience of E. P. Prentice, 



