40 



verse ratio to the power of the transverse 

 bark; hence the operation will require to 

 be performed much earlier on pear and 

 apple, than on cherry trees. 



The last cause I have to take^otice of is 

 superabundant blossom. This cause oper- 

 ates in two ways in rendering the tree bar- 

 ren ; by affording more receptacles and 

 lodging for the vermin ; and by requiring 

 more nourishment than the tree can give, so 

 that the fruit either perishes for want of 

 support, or is destroyed by the increase of 

 the vermin, occasioned by the decay of the 

 blossom. For it is observable, that, in this 

 case, when the fruit sets unequally, there is 

 some chance of a tolerable crop ; and if this 

 did not often happen, the blossom being 

 generally so abundant, I am of opinion we 

 seldom would have any fruit ; but where it 



