54 FIELD NOTES ON APPLE CULTURE, 
CHAPTER XIV. 
LONGEVITY OF APPLE TREES. 
“‘Why are apple trees shorter lived than: they were 
when I was a boy ?” asked an old New England farmer. 
“*T know of orchards which were set before I was born, 
and which are still in good condition, but my trees, set 
forty years ago, begin to show signs of giving out.” The 
causes of this difference in the longevity of fruit trees 
are obviously three: the nature of the varieties planted, 
the kind of culture given, and the increased severity of 
the winters. 1. Nearly all the old orchards are com- 
posed of seedling trees. Seodlings are hardier than most 
of the improved varieties. Wostward, and especially on 
the prairies, any particular veriety is commonly shorter 
lived than it is in New England. It is probable that the 
varieties which have originated and have been long grown ° 
eastward are not adapted to the West. 2. High cultiva- 
tion, with consequent heavy crops, is a forcing process, 
and no doubt tends to lessen the longevity of trees. 
Trees which bear light crops of small apples approach 
the wild state, and are not worn out so soon as highly 
cultivated trees. High cultivation, judiciously applied, 
is not to be discouraged, however, for a short life, with 
an abundance of good fruit, is preferable to a long life 
with less and inferior fruit. 3. As the country becomes 
denuded of forests, the winter climate becomes more 
rigorous. As a consequence, many varieties which were 
formerly regarded as hardy are now destroyed. The 
