THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



313 



then makes its appearance, and as the tree becomes more 

 diseased, the more profusely will the fungi appear. The blight 

 was well known to the ancient Greeks, but they were totally 

 ignorant of its cause. They regarded it merely as a blast from 

 heaven, indicating the displeasure of their offended Gods, and 

 that it was perfectly incurable. The Romans also knew it 

 under the denomination of rubigo. They regarded it in the 

 same light as the Greeks, and supposed it under the imme- 

 diate direction of Rubigus, one of their gods, whom they 

 always invoked, that the blight might be kept off from corn 

 and trees. It is at the present time well known both to the 

 agriculturist and gardener, and has been very differently ac- 

 counted fw ; indeed, in proportion as words have multiplied 

 upon the subject, the difficulties attending its elucidation have 

 increased. 



PROCURING THE TREES. 



In providing trees to plant an orchard, it is well to choose 

 them from some eminent fi'uit-tree grower, as less risk is run 

 in being deceived in the sorts ; and in making a selection, it is 

 better to be content with fewer sorts, provided that they be 

 good, than to introduce a number, and then to have to grub 

 up one half of them, when they have arrived at maturity. It 

 is of importance to choose them from a soil similar to that in 

 which they are to be planted, or as near to it as can be ob- 

 tained, but if it be a worse soil, so much the better. Trees 

 are found to thrive best that have been grown on a poor soil, 

 when they arc removed to a better ; and trees grown in a rich 

 soil, when transplanted into a worse, seldom recover the change. 

 Care should be taken to choose such as are, to all appearance, 

 free of canker, or which are not bruised or damaged. They 

 ought to be chosen the summer before planting, and then care- 

 fully examined to see whether they be affected with insects, 

 which, if it be the case, they should by all means be rejected. 

 It is always better to pay double price for clean healthy trees, 

 than take those which are unhealthy even as a gift. If the 

 orchard, which is generally the case, is to be ultimately pas- 

 tured with cattle, choose standards having clean straight stems 



2 b 



