PREFACE. Vli 



a premature end, had not the real cause and 

 remedy been discovered. 



In my history of the American Blight and 

 the remedy, I shall confine myself to what I 

 can speak to with certainty, and it is absolutely 

 necessary the strongest measures' should be 

 resorted to, to prevent the threatened destruc- 

 tion of our apple trees. For some years past, 

 the markets of the metropolis have been sup- 

 plied from Christmas till Summer, chiefly 

 with foreign apples ; a season, when the price 

 would be of such great service to our own 

 farmers ; the reason of which proceeds from 

 a conviction, that when the trees ought to be 

 coming into bearing, to afford a remuneration 

 for the trouble and expense consequent in 

 rearing them, they are beginning to receive the 

 canker, and notwithstanding a number of years 

 may elapse before they become completely 

 affected, still the fruit they produce, neither 

 keeping so well, nor being so fine in flavour 

 and appearance, as that of those which are 

 healthy, render them little better than an 



