138 Western Seedling Fruits. 



made, of which, up to the summer of 1844, (ahhough at 

 intervals it made a slight visible appearance,) I lost but one 

 tree from it, (a Julienne,) which was supposed to be more 

 subject to it than most other sorts. I had, from this partial 

 exemption, flattered myself that there was in my soil and 

 aspect, a peculiar adaptation to the health and growth 

 of this delicious fruit; but, alas ! the fell destroyer came like 

 a thief in the night and cut off my fondly cherished hope, 

 since which I have lost not less than one hundred trees, small 

 and large. And where I am to look for its stopping is truly 

 gloomy. Its attacks are not confined to the luxuriant grow- 

 ing trees, but all are subject to it, fruiting and unfruiting, 

 the old and stunted, those budded on the quince, on the apple, 

 thorn, and their own stock, all share alike. Nor is its appear- 

 ance confined to the branches of the tree ; these very fre- 

 quently remain, to all appearance, vigorous and green, when 

 parts of the body are as dry as a post. I have had some 

 trees destroyed by simply inserting a bud or a graft, which 

 seemed to open a wound for the reception of the poisonous 

 influence. My attention was drawn to a fine, vigorous, 

 healthy looking tree, some six inches through, with all the 

 parts unaffected, except about two feet from the fork of the 

 head, where the bark was completely dry; it remained so 

 without change, from June to the shedding of the leaves in 

 the fall, which dropped from the tree at the usual time with 

 other trees. When I removed the tree, in the spring, I found 

 nothing indicating disease in the root. The Bartlett pear 

 trees, three inches through, were attacked — one in the 

 branches, the other in the body just at the heading. The 

 last I cut off below the appearance of the disease, and in- 

 serted grafts in the amputation ; they grew and have made a 

 fine head. In the other, I checked its progress by lopping off 

 the branches below the diseased parts, but, to my astonish- 

 ment, I found the disease had encircled the body just above 

 the ground, leaving the intermediate space to all appearance 

 unaffected; so also the roots. I immediately planted three 

 small pear stocks near the trunk, cut off their tops, and 

 inserted them under the bark of the affected tree, some dis- 

 tance above; they united freely, supplying the stem with 

 nourishment from the new roots ; the consequence was, the 



