1869.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 161 



whicli I may give. Seven or eight years ago I saw a vine-root at 

 Dalkeith, which had passed away from the well-made borders, pushed 

 its w&y through a broad gravel-walk, and was found a great distance 

 down in the vegetable ground — if I remember correctly, 73 or 93 

 feet from the vinery. The next case is that of a young vinery which 

 was planted here in April last year, and for which a border of 8 

 feet wide, 4 inside and 4 outside, was provided, of the best materials 

 to be had, and which was deemed sufficient to keep them growing 

 for the season. In January of this year, when removing the remainder 

 of this inside border, to be replaced with good soil for their further 

 progress, we found that hundreds of the roots of the young vines were 

 running through the cold sour material that formed the original border 

 made fifty years ago — many of these roots having penetrated to dis- 

 tances of 2 and 3 feet. We have brought forward these instances to prove 

 the fact that, plant in the best materials to be got, if you allow the tree 

 its own way it will in a short time penetrate the cold and unwholesome 

 subsoil, which will gradually poison the sap, the result of which will 

 be canker, and consequently premature decay. The true causes of 

 canker in the Pear or any other tree are twofold ; viz., a too cold and 

 too moist soil to live in. If the roots penetrate to a depth of 4 feet, 

 the fact is, that at that depth the soil is several degrees colder than 

 at 2 or 3 feet, and as a consequent result the tree is longer in a 

 dormant state, and has not the time and opportunities necessary for 

 making and ripening its wood. And further, at that depth the soil is 

 generally soaked with water, which surcharges the whole system of the 

 tree with aqueous matter ; and as there is no outlet for it in the shape 

 of perspiration until the season advances, the tree, when it begins to 

 grow, rushes into rapid growth, and makes what are called soft watery 

 shoots, which never ripen properly, and which tend to encourage the 

 disease. The only cure for canker is to lift all affected trees, remove 

 the deep-penetrating roots, drain the border thoroughly, plant the trees 

 afresh in a good sound compost, and attend regularly to root-pruning 

 for all time to come. If these things are attended to, we are very 

 sanguine that the results will prove good. 



The insects which attack the Pear are more numerous than the 

 diseases. The first we will notice is the scale Aspidiotis ostreaeformis, 

 which is a very small insect (oyster-shaped, as the name indicates), 

 but which often does a vast amount of damage by attacking trunk 

 and branches as well as the fruit. It is always of the same colour as 

 the bark upon which it lodges, and being so small, it may pass a long 

 time unobserved, unless a strict watch is kept for its appearance. 

 They have a hard and shining look, and often are dotted all over the 

 branches like thousands of little specks, if allowed to breed to any 



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