370 - PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
Drought and sterile soil not unfrequently deprive 
us of the fruit which we expected. Careful water- 
ing may assist us here greatly. The larve of va- 
rious insects, and often these themselves, when 
perfect, rot and destroy the fruit. Winds, old age, 
and accidents, often disappoint our hopes of ga- 
thering fruit. Here no remedies are of avail, except 
avoiding the occasional causes. Finally, from too 
great a quantity of sap, many a fruit-tree throws off 
its fruit. This happens in the same manner as when 
plants do not blossom for superabundance of sap, 
and the means above in this case recommended, 
may serve us here as well. Most bulbous plants, 
when the sap accumulates, drop their immature 
fruit. They should therefore be planted in dry 
ground. Some bulbous plants indeed only then 
ripen their seeds, if their unripe fruit be cut off with 
the stem, and kept thus lying for some time. 
VII. HIS- 
