NOTES ON THE VARIOUS SPECIES 241 



that he rarely makes a close cut, even if he knows 

 that he ought to, and a stump or snag remains as 

 an open gateway for the fungi. If the lower 

 limbs do not die they are frequently torn out by 

 wind- or ice-storms, assisted by the natural lever- 

 age of the long horizontal limbs. The trunks 

 and limbs, also, of these old, woody, slow-growing 

 trees, push out calluses very slowly, and on them 

 even small wounds are dangerous. Still further, 

 these are the very trees which are most subject to 

 injury, standing as they do near drives or barns or 

 in the orchard, where wagons and tools run 

 against them, and horses lunch on their juicy 

 bark. 



All of these influences, taken together, explain 

 the gaping cavities which are seen at every hand 

 in an old, neglected apple orchard. 



Almost equally numerous are the considerations 

 which make us wish to preserve the old trees. 

 They are highly picturesque, and they give to the 

 new house which happens to be built among them 

 an immediate atmosphere of homeliness. They 

 make excellent shade trees, and are very beauti- 

 ful in bloom. Their fruit is often fair in quality 

 and quantity, and there is a perennial hope in the 

 human breast that both will next year be greater. 

 Finally, the apple tree is one of the best loved of 

 trees, and the associations which gather around a 

 veteran Baldwin or Rambo may far outweigh 



