verse ratio to the power of the transverse bark; hence the operation will require to be performed much earlier on pear and apple, than on cherry trees.

The last cause I have to take notice of is superabundant blossom. This cause operates in two ways in rendering the tree bar ren; by affording more receptacles and lodging for the vermin; and by requiring more nourishment than the tree can give, so that the fruit either perishes for want of support, or is destroyed by the increase of the vermin, occasioned by the decay of the blossom. For it is observable, that, in this case, when the fruit sets unequally, there is some chance of a tolerable crop; and if this did not often happen, the blossom being generally so abundant, I am of opinion we seldom would have any fruit; but where it

sets equally, there is little or no chance. The reason of this appears to be, that, when some get the start of others, they draw the nourishment to themselves; in consequence the others quickly die, by which more support is given to the living: but when they all partake equally, the whole nourishment is exhausted, and the whole fruit perishes. This may be exemplified by supposing a ship at sea with one hundred men, and one months provisions, but by stress of weather she is driven out of her course, and they find it will be two months before they can reach port. It is clear, that, by throwing fifty men overboard, fifty lives would be saved, because one month's provisions for one hundred men, will serve fifty men two months. In this case it might be reckoned cruel, and the men might be put on short allowance, but we cannot apply this cruelty to trees,

F

and we do not yet know of any method of putting them on short allowance; and if we

did, it is not likely they would thrive; for we find that even other animals cannot suf fer equal privations and viscissitudes with man: besides, where is the port they are to get supply? The tree therefore ought to be relieved early, by destroying a part of the fruit.

As I do not know what this superabundant blossom is owing to, (but it appears to be a very general, if not universal law of nature, to provide for loss. This is observable in the animal world, as well as the vegetable; and though we cannot understand the reason, the fact is certain) so I cannot propose a preventative: but the indications of cure will be, to diminish the quantity of fruit, which may be done by cutting off

a number of the branches, and sweeping off the fruit, when in blossom; and to increase the quantity of nourishment by peeling; but this is only limited, and a radical cure still remains a desideratum. I expect, however, that the practice of peeling will soon throw some light on this subject.

There is an objection to the practice of cutting off the branches, though stated here, and common among gardeners, which they say they do because the tree has too much wood; but I never could learn from them the meaning of this phrase. It is true they say it is because the tree does not bear fruit, but they do not inform us how the quantity of wood should prevent the tree from bearing fruit.

How far this practice has succeeded with

them I know not, nor do I know whether they have made a distinction between trees of a spare and profuse blossom; but I know that I have a number of trees very thick of wood, which bear very great crops; but all these have a very spare blossom and I likewise know, that it is of advantage to the crop in this climate, where the fruit is so often destroyed by the inclemency of the weather, for a tree to be thick of wood; for I have often observed the fruit of a thick-wooded tree destroyed on that point of the compass whence the storm proceeded, and preserved on the opposite side, when that of the thin-wooded tree was destroyed altogether.

These observations, without any comment, were given in to the Caledonian Horticultural Society, on the 1st September, 1812,