100 



Iwigs became covered with honey dew. This excretion was 

 at first a Hmpid watery fluid, having a sweet and slightly 

 sickish taste. It became inspissated in a short time and then 

 appeared much like honey. It attracted thousands of flies, 

 bees, wasps and other insects, that feasted upon it with much 

 avidity. At the same time many of the leaves, especially 

 those upon the new growth, dropped off"; all extension 

 ceased, ^nd the remaining leaves and the wood became 

 covered u black incrustation, and presented altogether the 

 appearance of October. This occurred in the latter part of 

 July and early in August, and but very few of the trees 

 made any attempt at a second growth. The cause of this 

 phenomena is not well understood, though I have some con- 

 fidence in the assertion that had it been a dry season, it 

 would not have occurred. 



The whole growth for the four seasons past not having 

 been quite satisfactory, I am (October) placing around each 

 tree two or three shovels full of night soil. This is to be 

 covered by a conical mound of loam about three feet in 

 breadth and one in height, for the triple purpose of covering 

 the manure, securing the trees against the chance of the de- 

 predations of mice, and preventing the injurious action of 

 frost, which in heavy soil lacerates the fibrous roots and 

 stunts the tree in its growth. This latter difficulty is 

 almost entirely prevented by thorough draining, and to ray 

 mind, at least on my. own land, draining is of vastly more 

 value to an orchard by keeping the water out of it during 

 the season of frost, than in the summer, when for the most 

 part the land is dry enough. Before distributing the night 

 soil I strew around each tree half a pound of the scales 

 of protoxide of iron, such as are found around the black- 

 smith's anvil. Next spring the hillock of loam will be par- 

 tially levelled, and the manure mixed with the soil. 



The object which I have kept in view in pruning thus far, 

 has been mainly to promote wood growth rather than the 

 formation of fruit. For this purpose I generally prune just 

 as the buds are swelhng in spring. This I am aware is 



