FETJITTREES. 93 



REPORT ON FRUIT TREES. 



BY WILLIAM C. FOWLER. 



The culture of Fruit trees has always received the attention of the 

 inhabitants of Massachusetts, as a matter of high importance in its 

 relations to beauty and vitility. While the soil was new, it contained 

 all the elements necessary for their growth ; so that a crop of apple 

 trees was raised with as much certainty as a crop of wheat. But 

 afterwards, when some of the elements were exhausted from the soil, 

 the orchards planted failed in vigor of growth and in perfection of 

 fruit. The trees were smaller and shorter-lived, and the fruit was 

 inferior in size and number. Their enemies, too, of the insect tribe, 

 — if not from increase of number, at least from diminished power of 

 resistance in their victims, — were more successful in their attacks. 

 As cider became less in demand for the table and for the distillery, 

 and the orchards became thinner and less productive from the axe or 

 from natural decay, — while the population of the state increased, — 

 the supply of fruit becahie less, while the demand for the table or for 

 culinary purposes became greater. 



What then shall be done to supply the increased and increasing 

 demand ? The answer is, — Increase the numbek of growing 

 TREES ; IMPROVE THE MODES OF cuLTivATiox. As nature in the 

 diminished fertility of the soil does less ; art reinforcing nature, must 

 do more. By studying the laws of vegetable life, by the application 

 of appropriate manures, in short, by proper cultivation, fertility can 

 be communicated to the soil, vigor to the growth of the tree, and im- 

 proved flavor and increased size to the fruit. 



It is the object of the Committee, in making their report, to throw 

 together a few brief remarks for the benefit solely of the young and 

 inexperienced cultivator, in the shape of Rules, without accompany- 

 ing them with a statement of the principles on which the rules are 

 founded. Those who seek for the foundations of these rules in the 

 conclusions of science, can find them elsewhere. 



1. Plant a Nursery. Let your nursery consist chiefly of 

 apple trees. But let it also contain pear trees, cherry trees, peach 

 trees, plum trees, and grape vines. Let them all be seedlings, ob- 

 tained from good seed ; unless the quince and the grape form excep- 

 tions. Lot the nursery be planted in a deep, rich soil, and be kept 



