46 



impervious skin, will become prejudicial to the welfare 

 of the tree. 



One great enemy to the orchardist's success remains 

 to be noticed, viz., the American blight.* This, if suf- 

 fered to establish a footing, will be productive of more 

 evils than all the others. The first best maxim, is to 

 resist its first attacks, be the trouble ever so great. If, 

 however, it unfortunately establishes a footing, we 

 know of no better remedy, providing the orchard is 

 not too old, than a close pruning in November of all, 

 or nearly all, the last year's shoots, and then to apply 

 a paint (as before recommended for the attacks of 

 animals) composed of urine, soft-soap, and lime ; 

 thickened, if necessary, with clay. Two ounces of soft- 

 soap to a gallon of urine, thickened with clay and 

 lime, will make a powerful mixture, and will, if persisted 

 in, prove effective. 



DISEASES. 



Disease is the negation of health ; and as the health 

 of a plant is the correct performance of its functions, 

 disease may be defined to be an incorrect peformance 

 of the functions. Such incorrectness arises from four 

 causes — vital energy declining from old age — parasites 

 — improper food, either in quality or quantity- — and 



* See section " Insects." 



