XVI INTRODUCTION. 



ing houses for keeping fruit, and have eaten freely of grapes and apples kept in one 

 of these houses. The grapes had the same color, the same flavor, and almost the 

 freshness of stem of well ripened Catawbas in their season. It seemed like eating 

 them fresh from the vines in the spring instead of fall April in place of October. A 

 great variety of both fall and winter Apples were submitted for examination and 

 tasting. Autumn apples were autumn apples still, and winter apples were not yet 

 ripe. 



Mr. N. says he has succeeded with all the fruits he has yet tried, except the 

 Peach ; with that he fails probably from some influence of the down. 



This manner of retarding decay appears to be founded upon correct principles of 

 science, and has been perseveringly tested for several years. It seems to promise what 

 we all want, good fresh fruit for every day in the year. 



The preceding observations are intended to show 



1st. That the cultivation of fruit in our country is not so successful as it should 

 be. 



2d. That much more fruit is wanted than is likely to be raised, without some 

 change of management. 



3d. That the comparative failure of fruit is not owing to defects of soil. 



4th. That all fruit trees will grow well in all parts of our country, on land that 

 will produce good crops of anything else. 



5th. That if successful plans of keeping fruit sound and fresh should be gene- 

 rally introduced, the quantity wanted will be greatly increased. 



6th. That a foreign demand would be found for any superabundance. 



As to the situation of orchards, no fruit trees should ever be planted on low wet 

 ground. A western exposure, with protection from the morning sun, is best. 



Trees whose buds are liable to be killed by the severe cold of winter, or the 

 blossoms to come out early in the spring, should be planted in elevated situations. 

 Plum trees grow best, and the fruit is generally finer, on clay soils, but light sandy 

 lands are better for Peaches. 



The health of your trees and your crops of frvit will depend upon hmu successful you are 

 in subduing the Insect Enemies. If they are conquered, all who plant trees ami tiuuuigc them 

 with reasonable care can have fruit. 



As it has been the wish of the author to avoid the use of scientific terms, he has 

 as far as possible confined himself to language that will be understood by all readers. 

 But some explanations are necessary. The word Insect signifies in sect/mis. Most 

 insects, except spiders, are in three sections. They have six legs and two feelers or 

 antenna. The young of insects, as caterpillars and grubs, are often called worms, 

 but improperly. Worms, or vermes, are never insects. 



The science that treats of insects is called Entomology, and this, like other sciences, 

 has the various species classified and arranged to facilitate their study. The primary 



