FRUIT-CULTURE. 279 



Root-pruning fruit-trees in the garden stops their growth, 

 and causes them to form fruit-buds, and blossom and bear 

 fruit immediately. 



Question. Then, ordhiarily, you would not disturb the 

 roots of the plant much when repotting? 



Capt. Moore. If we had any roots that were in the way 

 when repotting, we should cut them off. We handle things 

 roughl}^ sometimes in these operations. 



Question. In raising tomatoes, we are troubled with 

 large, ugly worms that eat the leaves badly. They are so 

 near the color of the plants that we cannot see them. What 

 is the best preventive for them ? 



Capt. Moore. There is no trouble in finding them. You 

 will find the worm close by where the fresh castings are. I 

 do not know of any other way of killing them, except find- 

 ing them and picking them off. It is a safe way. You have 

 seen a miller early in the spring as big as a small bird : that 

 is the miller that deposits the eggs of those insects. I will 

 say, that, if you find a bug around your garden, no matter 

 what it is, it is safe to kill it. Then you may hold an in- 

 quest afterwards, and, if you find you are wrong, you can 

 apologize ; but it is the safest way to destroy them. 



Question. I would like to inquire how far apart you set 

 your peach-trees. I did not understand 3'ou j^esterday. 



Capt. Moore. I will tell you how far apart I set my 

 trees, and give you the reason why I plant them so. The 

 custom is to set peach-trees twelve or fourteen feet apart ; 

 but I have set mine eighteen or twenty feet apart. I have 

 more land than I can cultivate properly, and I have not 

 half as much land as many farmers here. If you plant 

 them eighteen or twenty feet apart, you have an abundance 

 of room to cultivate between the trees, you have an abun- 

 dance of light and air about the trees ; and the result is, that 

 you have better trees, larger fruit, and much higher-colored 

 fruit, because you get the light and sun between the trees, 

 and they have a free circulation of air. 



Question. What varieties of peach do you recommend 

 as the most successful ? 



Capt. Moore. There are but three or four varieties that 

 I should plant. In the first place, you must take the con- 

 dition of the markets. I am speaking now of growing them 



