Is Dust In Fruit-culture Beneficial?

It is singular that along dusty roadsides there js generally an abundance of fruit, and this abundance is generally in proportion to the quantity of dust. Not only is the fruit abundant, but the leaves we are generally remarkably healthy; and do not reniember an instance of a blighted or seriously diseased tree, when they have been covered with roadside du8t. This has been frequeutly noted in regard to oíd pear trees in gardens along roadsides ; but this year, especially as to the oherry, was very striking, especially low-headed pie cherries, which are more easily covered with dust than trees "of larger size. ín this vicinity this year we have had a particularly dusty timt). Thero was no rain of any consequence for five weeks, and the roads, niany of them at least, are not farnous for a freedom from dust. The consequence was that many of the trees wore for weeks of a dusty brown, instead of their usual living green. The trees did not seem to mind it In the least, and the prodigious crops of cherries that they bore was scinething wonderful. One friend gathered four hundred pounds from one tree, which he sold for ten cents per pound, yielding the handsome sum of forty dollars from one tree. This tree stands on the little grass patch in front of the house, and thus served the doublé purpose of putting money into its owner's pockets, and of screening the house from inuch of the dust. We do not pretend to account for this curious fact, but rest with simply stating it. It is supposed that the plant breathes through its leaves,- how it does this when covered with dust it is not for us to say. It may be that the minute insects which crowd on fruit trees gonerally don't like dust ; indeed, people do say that it is to destroy insects that chickens so love to cover theinselves with dust. Agaln, some people have a notion that niany fruit diseases come from minute fungi, which develop on the leaves and branches, and soon cover the whole surface, destroying tissues as they go. It may be that absolutely dry dust falling on these minute, juicy little plants, may suck the moisture out of them and leave them high and dry. We do not pretend to discuss any of these propositions ; but at the same time it is curious to note that these dust-covered fellows should always do so well. - Germantown l'elegrajit.