CHAP. X.
Of the Diseases of Fruit-Trees.
IT is apparent, that by a Law Universally Establish'd, all Living Animated Beings are subject to some Accidents, which hinder them from enjoying a perpetual, and al∣ways equally Vigorous health; this is the reason that it is not only among Men, and other Animals, we find different Distempers: Vegetables, and more particularly Fruit-Trees, are likewise subject to certain Infirmities that destroy them, which we may very well term Distempers; yellow Leaves out of Season, new Shoots growing black, and dying on their Extremities in the Months of August, and September, Fruits remaining small, or dropping of themselves, &c. are, as the Physicians term it, so many speaking Symptoms, informing us of the indisposition of the Foot. Among those Infirmities, there are some that may be Cur'd with the assistance of some Remedies, and others which hitherto appear Incurable; since whatever can be done to them, has still prov'd Ineffectual, perhaps time may produce some Skilful Person, whose Knowledge and Experience may give us some light, in a Case which exposes us to scorn, or at least to pity. In the mean time, since it is but too true that our Trees are liable to different Distempers, Gard∣ners would certainly be blame-worthy, if they did not make it their Study to find out effectual Remedies for some, and to satisfie themselves as to the others; and if knowing those Remedies, they were not careful to apply them upon occasion: For it were vain for them to breed Trees in their Gardens, to be liable to see them perish in their prime, for want of knowing how to Cure them, and restore them to their pristine Vigour.
In Order not to omit any thing relating to those Accidents which our Trees are liable to, without including such as proceed from too long wounds, of great Heat, of great Cold, of Storms, of Whirlwinds, Hails, &c.
I think my self oblig'd to say, in the first place, that there are Distempers common to all Trees in general; Secondly, that there are some that are peculiar to every particular kind: The common Distempers consist either in a defect of Vigour, which makes the Trees appear in a languishing Condition, or else in a storm of large white Worms, which are sometimes form'd in the Earth, and there gnaw the Roots, or the Bark of the Neighbouring Stem; those mischievous little Insects which we call Tons, by degrees cause so great a disorder, that the Tree which is attack'd by them, and had always appear'd Vigorous before, all on a suddain dies without any Remedy.