CONCLUSION. 143 



I have introduced the accompanying cut (page 144) of a 

 one-year apple tree, grown from a root-graft last season, and 

 although the engraving from the photograph shows only a 

 small portion of the roots, it will be seen that they are all 

 strong and perpendicular, and probably penetrated in one 

 season deeper than the top is high. But are there any other 

 causes for the phenomenal success of this representative 

 apple tree, standing on hard, uncultivated ground ? I will 

 here quote an extract from a critic of mine in Texas Farm and 

 Ranch, who undertook to answer this question, and suggests 

 that, first, "the soil near a dwelling is likely to be rich, deep 

 and full of vegetable matter j" and secondly, that "the noise, 

 smoke and smell of a human habitation tend to drive harmful 

 insects from nearby fruit trees." Possibly some one may add 

 that the slops and wash-water from the kitchen played an im- 

 portant part. As to the first statement, is it a fact that such 

 was likely true ? I see no reason why, but if so, what part 

 would so small and circumscribed an area play in developing 

 the last full crop on a tree with a forty-feet diameter of head 

 and lateral feeding roots, certainly covering, at a small esti- 

 mate, one hundred feet in diameter? I have traced oak roots, 

 in a field near a wood, that far in a single direction, and 

 found them still travelling. His second statement is abso- 

 lutely unfounded in fact, for we all know that screens are 

 everywhere a necessity to keep out the swarms of beetles, 

 candle-bugs and moths of every kind that, drawn by the lights, 

 flock to our houses after dark. The live oaks here in Galves- 

 ton are much worse eaten by the canker worms near the 

 electric lights than farther away. Thirdly, as to the wash- 

 water and kitchen slops, in this day of cleanliness and sewer 

 drains, it is hardly likely that Mr. Pierce allows such things 

 to be thrown around his house, and if he did, as the tree stood 

 at the back door, its feeding roots were far removed, and 

 would receive small benefit from such applications near the 

 trunk. 



But let us examine a little farther into the facts concern- 

 ing this apple tree. It is not only of remarkable size for its 

 age and neglect, but seems ordinarily to bear enormous crops, 



