134 THE NEW HORTICULTURE. 



by fall that there was no difference at all in the actual amount 

 of pruning done, or in the appearance of the trees alongside 

 that received but one pruning the next winter, another evi- 

 dence that the disease is internal and beyond the control of 

 the knife. 



This theory, also, accounts fully for the well known fact 

 that blight does not prevail every season, because the proper 

 conditions of moisture, or rather, lack of it, and temperature, 

 are not forthcoming, and without these, blight is just as im- 

 possible as it is to make dough "rise" in an icebox. But on 

 the external hypothesis, where in these non-blighting seasons 

 do the bacteria go ? Having now given a reasonable explan- 

 ation of all the phenomena of blight, it only remains for 

 those intending to plant pear or apple trees hereafter to fol- 

 low nature, in order to grow them just as free from blight as 

 her old seedlings are, in fact, even more so, for a close root- 

 pruned tree will drive its several tap-roots much deeper into 

 the moist subsoil than any seedling will. Plow shallow after- 

 wards for a few years, giving liberal supplies of food on poor 

 ground, and then let the grass grow, keeping it well mowed 

 through the growing season. While such trees, if not fertil- 

 ized or cultivated before growth starts, will stand light winter 

 pruning while young, perhaps, everywhere, and heavy prun- 

 ing here, still after bearing a knife should never be applied 

 until the leaves are out. A tree can be literally cut to pieces 

 after that, and while active growth continues, with perfect 

 impunity. I have several times cut both peach and pear to 

 the ground, and they sprang up with increased vigor, and 

 everybody knows that the grape is best grafted at that time. 

 And, by the way, I am satisfied, both from experience and ob- 

 servation, that fall and early winter plowing and pruning of 

 grape vines that have been planted with roots spread out lat- 

 erally are the potent, probably the sole, causes of subsequent 

 rot in the fruit. The old root-pruned Herbemont at Hitch- 

 cock, before mentioned, that bears annually such enormous 

 crops, free from all disease, is strong evidence of this. No 

 tree or plant will become so completely surface-rooted from 

 long roots as the vine, and none penetrate more deeply from 



