302 Modern Improvements in Horticulture, 



nectarines, are very subject to this disease, appearing on the 

 tender shoots and leaves, which, if not removed, it eventually 

 destroys. Sometimes it seats itself in spots on the fruit of 

 peaches, and on the leaves of apricots and pears. It yields to and 

 is destroyed by two or three applications of strong soap lather. 

 Which quality in the soap effects the cure, is perhaps not yet 

 ascertained, whether it be the alkali or grease, or both together, 

 is worth knowing ; because, if the alkali be the agent, water 

 impregnated with that quality may be easily had, and as it is 

 easily distributed as a wash, it may be generally useful for many 

 kinds of plants liable to the disease. And here it may be ob- 

 served, that practical gardening maybe greatly assisted by a 

 knowledge of chemistry; indeed, were it possible to unite the 

 knowledge of botanical physiology, with the powers and science 

 of chemistry, and to add to these the acumen of practical gar- 

 dening, an oracle would be embodied whose decrees would be a 

 lantern to the feet of the practitioner, arm him with new powers of 

 defence, and show him the safe and certain road to success. For 

 there can be no doubt, that by the union of those powers, many 

 discoveries might be made, many general as well as particular 

 rules laid down, which, as auxiliaries, would strengthen the 

 hands of practice in the prosecution of the desired end. 



These observations are thrown out to the notice of practical 

 men, to show that the range of exertion is extensive, that all 

 means, whether immediate or remote, at hand or afar off, should 

 and may be employed in the pursuit of their business. 



Late crops of peas are particularly liable to be destroyed by 

 mildew. The President of the Horticultural Society attri- 

 butes this to a want of sufficient moisture at the roots, and 

 declares that copious watering in autumn, is a preventive. 

 Is this the cause of the decrease in peach-houses, and on open 

 walls also ? 



In our present improved system of kitchen-gardening, there 

 hardly appears room for any amendment ; we seem to have 

 arrived at the ^ ne plus ultra' of the art : but this idea should 

 not prevail, because there may still be openings for advance- 

 ment : wherever there is an interruption in the supply of the 

 same kind of vegetable, (as in the case of the summer and 

 autumn supply of cauliflower for instance,) the interstice 



