260 RExMARKS ON FRUIT AND FRUIT TREES. 



which nature demands. Liebig lays this down as a truth. Our 

 prairie and forest lands furnish a good illustration in point. 

 They are never impoverished, their fertility never dies out, and 

 because the materials which are required for the growth of the 

 grass or tree, are furnished by the decay of the leaves, &c. of 

 the tree, and the fruit and spears of grass. Thus, for the orchard, 

 the ashes, leaves and pumice furnish the best manure, as they 

 contain all the ingredients which enter into the growth of the 

 apple. But these materials may not exist in sufficient quanti- 

 ties, and then resort must be had to composts or other manures. 

 Stable manure will do well, but it is so stimulating, that the 

 wood does not ripen well. 



The gentleman had, upon one occasion, used a large quantity 

 of this kind of manure upon his fruit trees. — There was a rapid 

 and apparently thrifty growth of the trees, but yet the wood did 

 not ripen ; the cold of the succeeding winter killed a great many 

 of them. The speaker concluded with the observation, that the 

 time was not far distant, when the cultivation of fruit trees 

 would be infinitely better understood, than it has been in times 

 past, but that this knowledge would only be gained through the 

 union of science and practice. 



Mr. Rice, of Newton. — Can we prevent the yellows on the 

 peach tree ? The speaker had seen recommended an application 

 of urine as a good remedy for this disease. He had tried the 

 experiment upon an orchard, of about three hundred trees — say, 

 one-half of a pailful to each tree — and, out of the three hun- 

 dred, he had lost only two. One tree, nearly dead, certainly re- 

 vived, after the application. He thought that the suggestion 

 was worthy of consideration. 



Can any thing be done to save our peach buds ? He had ex- 

 amined his trees, this spring, and found nearly all the embryo 

 blossoms destroyed. Many contend, that these buds are killed, 

 in consequence of very warm weather in the fall, or early part 

 of winter, being succeeded immediately by severe cold. The 

 President observed that the cherry blossoms, or man^'- of them, 

 were destroyed. 



Many orchards, continued Mr. Rice, are lost, from a want of 



