184 On the Diseases of Fruit Trees. 



ceeding from the same causes as Gum in the Peach, it resem- 

 bles it in its progress, and is equally fatal in its termination. 

 From the strong similitude their features present in common, 

 we may consider them as diseases of the same class, though 

 altered in their symptoms by the peculiar organization of 

 the different plants, and the same remedies and precautions 

 which have been prescribed in the one case, are generally 

 applicable in the other. The Pear and Apple, however, pos- 

 sess the advantage of having some varieties much hardier and 

 less liable to canker than others ; these, though in general of 

 inferior quality, may, in case of the failure of choice sorts, be 

 grafted on them, and succeed perfectly well where the others 

 would perish. 



Being of opinion that no small proportion of both Gum and 

 Canker, which are unfortunately so widely extended, have 

 proceeded from the trees having been incautiously propaga- 

 ted from diseased stocks, by which means many valuable 

 varieties of fruit have been brought into undeserved disrepute, 

 I feel that I cannot too strongly impress on the mind of the 

 cultivator, the necessity that exists for his using the utmost 

 precaution in the choice of scions for grafting or budding, and 

 that none should be employed but such as are taken from 

 trees perfectly healthy and free from these complaints, other- 

 wise they will be most certainly transferred, and the diseases 

 in that case perpetuated. 



Independent of any other cause, some sorts are, in conse- 

 quence of their conformation, diseased from the seed, such, 

 no skill or circumstances will ever render healthy. 



Old age, though not properly a disease in fruit trees, but 

 the last stage of existence, which, in common with that of all 



