ENCLOSURES. 57 



of unfavorable soil more than overbalances that of 

 situation. In some of the hilly parts of western 

 New- York, where the highest land is peaty, spongy, 

 or springy, and the valleys dry and firm, the latter 

 are found best for the peach. " Some years ago, 

 we drained a shallow swamp ; and though the 

 situation is high and airy, peach trees of the best 

 bearing kinds planted there, have always been un- 

 productive."* 



ENCLOSURES. 



This subject is of the most vital consequence to 

 all who would cultivate fine fruit. The morality 

 of some Americans, whatever it may be on other 

 points, is, on this, far behind the ages of barbarism. 

 A large part of our population is brought up to re- 

 gard fine fruit, wherever it may be growing, 

 whatever of money, and time, and labor, and pa- 

 tience, it may have cost the public-spirited owner, 

 as common plunder. Hence the great uncertainty 

 and slim hope, with which many regard all attempts 

 to possess this delicious luxury. Why the young 

 man, who pilfers from the pocket-book, is to be 

 scouted from society, while he, who takes what 

 has cost the owner more, what he values more, and 

 which money will not replace, is allowed to run at 

 large, is one of the anomalies of the times.t 



* D. Thomas, Trans. N. Y. State Ag. Soc. Vol. I. See 

 some additional facts under the head Peach in this work, 

 t " The native fruit of a thickly populated country, grow- 



