8 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



trees than the apple- The black oak of our forests is affected 

 in a manner precisely similar, and induced apparently by the 

 operation of the same exciting cause, viz., injury in some form. 

 This subject has not been investigated with sufficient thorough- 

 ness to make it at all proper to theorize upon the specific nature 

 of the disease in question, or its predisposing causes ; but if 

 future observations should confirm the fact "which we have 

 hinted at in regard to the effect of spring trimming, a point 

 will be attained from which we may be able to start in future 

 investigations, with a reasonable expectation of more certain 

 results. 



It will not perhaps be thought out of place in this report if we 

 give a small space to the consideration of the remarkable failure 

 of the fruit crop, which has during the past year equally disap- 

 pointed the hopes of the producers and consumers of what had 

 grown to be considered a necessary of life. 



For some years a feeling of uncertainty in regard to the invest- 

 ment of much capital in fruit raising, has been gaining strength 

 in many agricultural districts, based upon partial failures of 

 some specific crop, and as certain theories have been adopted 

 by fruit growers to explain the failures which have given so 

 much cause for complaint, it will be proper to examine the facts 

 in the premises, not so much to establish new theories, or confirm 

 old ones, but tliat obstacles which now hinder us from arriving 

 at the truth may be at least partially removed. 



Our stone fruits, coming into the comparatively high latitude 

 of New England, from the mild and genial climates of Persia, 

 southern China, and Asia, could not fairly be expected to become 

 so completely changed in nature that they should not often fail 

 occasionally to mature crops of delicious fruit ; and in regard to 

 the peach and the plum, their early maturity and short term of 

 vigorous life would very much impede, if they did not entirely 

 prevent any great degree of adaptation to their new climate ; 

 and perhaps this is all that need be said of those two varieties. 



Whether the cherry is about to place itself in the same class 

 with those just named, or whether it is gradually breaking 

 down under the debilitating influence of excessive cultivation, 

 is yet to be determined. It is certain however, that no tree, 

 however vigorous, can for a long period remain capable of fully 

 maturing its buds, while subjected to the attacks of the immense 



