88 On Fruit and Fruit Trees. 



before, that the circumstance had been noticed by any 

 person except myself. My apples most generally fell off' 

 in the same way before they attained maturity : on ex- 

 amining them, they appeared sound on the outside ; but 

 on cutting them open, there was a dark soft streak in 

 all such as had fallen oft', some depth within the skin ; 

 which soon turned to a rot : this led me to gather such 

 as had not fallen off* the trees, sooner than I otherwise 

 would ; I took all my former precautions to save them 

 through the winter but in vain, they all rotted before 

 spring ; the decay began in the same dark streak below 

 the skin. 



It is a singular circumstance which I have not known 

 before, neither can I account for the cause, unless some- 

 thing singular in the season. — I wish to hear the sen- 

 timents and observations of gentlemen in different parts, 

 of the state, on the subject. 



I consider the best mode of raising fruit, particularly 

 apples a primary object for our citizens in general, and 

 as knowledge on the subject can only be obtained from 

 observations and a communication of sentiments from 

 different parts. 



I am gentlemen 



Your friend respectfully, 



Samuel Preston, 

 Dr. James Mease. 



