On Fruit and Fruit Trees. 83 



If such was the real cause, then perhaps the pruning 

 the trees, or raising them in dry airy situations, would 

 be of advantage. 



But about this time last year, two very intelligent 

 gentlemen from near Boston, lodged at my house 

 and among other topicks of conversation, those of or- 

 chards and the bitter-rot were introduced. — One of 

 them informed me, that he had discovered ** the true 

 cause of the bitter-rot, and a safe and easy mode to pre- 

 vent it; — that it was occasioned by a certain kind of a 

 worm on the body of the tree, between the wood and 

 the bark ; and that a safe and easy mode was to peal all 

 the bark off the bodies of the trees, on the longest day 

 in the year ; which he said he had frequently done : that 

 it did not kill or injure the trees, but that they grew 

 much better for it ; — and that it effectually prevented 

 the bitter-rot." 



I was surprised at this account, as I had no idea of 

 a tree living with the bark peeled off, in the hot dry sea- 

 son, yet they appeared worthy of credit. 



Therefore I resolved to sacrifice one tree to the expe- 

 riment, and on the 20th day of last June, about one 

 o'clock, in hot clear weather, I pealed a tree on which 

 there were apples, and had been subject to the bitter-rot. 

 I took all the bark off from the roots to up among the 

 limbs, fully expecting in two days to see it withered 

 and dead, — between the wood and bark I found many 

 of those worms, and discovered that there was a pulp 

 or glutinous substancewYiioh had grown that year between 

 the wood and the bark, and adhered to the wood. I went 

 faithfully every day to see my tree wither^ but was dis- 

 appointed ; it appeared to grow and thrive the better^ 



