356 THE GARDENER. [Aug. 



healthy offspring, for the seeds of disease in the parent stem are sure 

 to manifest themselves in the sapling twig. 



Although both constitutional and hereditary, canker is also a dis- 

 ease which may take hold upon the Apple through the effects of sur- 

 rounding circumstances. In short, canker in this form is nothing 

 more nor less than the want of constitutional vigour for a lengthened 

 period. If a tree is so placed that the food within its reach is not of 

 the kind and quality necessary for it — if the temperature of the soil 

 is too cold or too wet — then the inevitable end of the matter will be 

 canker and decay. It will be years, how^ever, before it makes its ap- 

 pearance in a tree which has been healthy and good in a young state. 

 As a rule, if the soil of the garden is at all like suitable for the Apple 

 to the depth of 18 inches, it will be very bad management indeed if 

 canker should make its appearance during the first dozen years of 

 their existence there. If the instructions already laid down are 

 attended to with regard to root-2:)runing, &c., it may be avoided 

 altogether. It will thus be evident that root-pruning serves a double 

 purpose — first, in bringing the young tree into a good and early fruit- 

 bearing condition ; and, second, in keeping it in the same by guarding 

 against canker, and keeping it in a genial temperature and within 

 reach of wholesome food. 



It will be quite unnecessary for me to enter into details explaining 

 what canker is, as it is well known by every one who has ever had the 

 most limited collection of fruit-trees under his care. In the case of 

 receiving under one's care a collection of trees which are suffering to 

 a certain extent from this disease, the first thing to be done, if the 

 trees are worth the trouble, is to have them lifted and examined, the 

 bad roots cut away, and the tree planted in good fresh soil. Let the 

 branches also be examined, and all cankered portions at once removed. 

 This may prove of very much advantage to the tree for many years, 

 yet the fact need not be disguised that the tree will never be the 

 same again as if it had not suffered from the attacks of the disease. 

 I would almost recommend in every case of this sort that a collection 

 of young trees be bought in to take the place of the older ones; retain- 

 ing the older ones, however, until such time as the young ones are 

 brought into a fruit-bearing condition. Although old ones may give 

 satisfaction for a few years, yet nevertheless, if they have suffered from 

 an attack of canker, the health and vigour of treehood, if I be allowed 

 to make a word to answer my purpose, will have gone for ever. I know 

 of no disease to which humanity is heir which is so analogous to 

 canker in a tree as that of consumption. iSTow admitting this fact, it 

 must be evident that a tree which has once suffered by it can never be 

 the same again, for it is a well- ascertained fact that a man who has 



