340 TjiAXSACTIOXS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



lets, and the rapid growtli in very rongli and hard ground, among 

 stones, to reach decaying flesh, and especially bones, is a plain indica- 

 tion of a source of nutrition not to be lost sight of when circumstances 

 are favorable. That mode of enriching the soil where trees stand 

 which are especial objects of our solicitude, is worthy of consideration. 

 There are such a variety of opinions respecting that devouring plague, 

 curculio, it is dangerous ground to approach for fear of exciting dis- 

 cussion. Give swine free access to orchards of all kinds. If they 

 should fail to crush each individual insect burrowing in a fallen apple, 

 their untiring propensity to plow the soil, in search of food, must 

 greatly disturb and interfere with the concealed enemy while in the 

 ground. Instead of charging the present sickly condition of orchards 

 to modifications of climate, deterioration of the soil, or laying too 

 much stress on the invasion and diffusion of the curculio, we might, 

 with some show of propriety, review the neglected manner of attend, 

 ing to the culture of fruit trees by farmers in general. We have been 

 occupied with excitements in all directions for some years. Good 

 farmers formerly looked at everything themselves, over the whole 

 extent of their grounds. They now have foremen and delegate 

 powers which our forefathers managed exclusively themselves. They 

 knew little or nothing about banks or railroad stocks. "What was not 

 consumed was sold, and the crop that promised best in market was 

 carefully managed. While the soil was new, and an abundance of 

 those elements in the composition of fertile places had not been 

 exhausted on which both plant and fruit essentially depended, less 

 personal care was required. But when those resources were beginning 

 to diminish in amount, neglect often followed as an unmis- 

 takable cause of further deterioration. There has been no period 

 since the settlement of this country when orchards presented such a 

 sickly, poverty-stricken aspect as now. A little neglect was favor- 

 able to the increase of insects. While the exhausted earth remains, 

 year after year, unsupplied with appropriate food for the trees, every 

 imaginable destructive influence has been going on rapidly to actually 

 kill them. Most of them are feeble and in the decrepitude of old age. 

 Starvation, parasites, strangulation and the ceaseless attacks of ver- 

 min upon circulating juices actually threaten their extermination. 

 Scarcely a single apple escapes the visitation of an enemy. The cure 

 and renovation of orchards are to be brought about by active personal 

 effort. That is the medicine required, instead of philosopliical dis- 

 sertations on probable causes of their appearance. It is discreditable 



