252 
THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
above; and, indeed, it is not at all uncommon to see branches, 
and even trees, killed from the effects of a vigorous growth of 
mistletoe—that 
“ False, detested parasite.” 
When we consider that this is a true parasite, or one that lives 
on the very juices that were prepared for the growth of the foster¬ 
parent, we must at once see that the mistletoe cannot possibly 
be a friend to the orchard. 
Still, however, farmers will tell us that trees which have this 
plant on them not only bear better, as a rule, but the fruit is 
sweeter than others, so that not unfrequently they have been 
brought to consider it as a friend rather than as a foe. Now, 
there is some truth in this, but if we look for the reason for it, 
we shall see that it only confirms our view of the detested nature 
of the parasite. 
The mode in which the mistletoe grows shows that it can only 
act by crippling the trees in which it has established itself, and, 
consequently, even young trees in which much of this plant is 
to be found will usually be greatly aged in appearance. The 
