After their terrible disappointment with the mother tree, the gardener and his servant are also dismayed to discover that the trees they planted in the nethermost parts of the vineyard have gone bad as well. For the Nephites and Lamanites, this represents the apostasy of both groups, because the “wild part” of their tree (the unrighteous people, consisting of primarily Lamanites) had overcome the part that had brought forth good fruit (mostly Nephites).