2G8 THE GARDENER. [June 



been placed, the horizontal system is partially carried out. Perpendicular 

 traiuing is gaining in favour with many, and it answers well where walls 

 require partly filling-up. A tree with from two to four and six upright 

 shoots, trained from 8 inches to 1 foot apart, will produce a large quantity 

 of fruit. Whatever the favourite method is, there should be no vacant 

 space on the walls, and there should be no crowding of branches together. 

 The crowding system defeats every effort to secure crops of fruit. In 

 the autumn, when sun and air should have free access to every leaf 

 and branch, by crowding the current year's growth the ripening process is 

 much retarded or entirely prevented. The labour that crowding gives, too, is 

 very objectionable, especially where labour power is limited. All outward 

 growing shoots are objectionable : if fruit sets on them, they are kept from 

 the walls and loose their protection ; in course of time they become ugly and 

 unfruitful. This applies to Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, and Apricots. Dry- 

 ness at the roots of newly-planted trees should be remedied by applications of 

 soft- water which has been exposed to the atmosphere. If trees are starting 

 weakly into growth, guano- water would be of service in starting them. A 

 mulching of good rotten manure is of much benefit, by keeping the roots cool 

 and nourishing them. 



Aphis and other insects are generally found to become active at this season, 

 and they should not be allowed to have a footing on the foliage. Tobacco- 

 water or tobacco-powder dusted over the trees, or syringed on them, mixed in 

 water, or Gishurst's compound in 2 ounces per gallon, are some of the most de- 

 structive remedies, and no insect life can stand against them. However, if the 

 vermin should get established, the remedies must be applied almost daily. 

 The grub found on Apricots, curled up in the leaves, can only be mastered 

 effectually with thumb and finger. Morello Cherries are very subject to black - 

 fly — a most formidable insect : a small vessel rilled with Gishurst's compound, 

 and the points of the shoots dipped in the liquid, will do much to destroy the 

 brood ; but often, where the foliage is close to the walls, the best plan is to nip 

 off the points of the diseased shoots and burn them. 



Pears, as a rule, are not so liable to aphis, but are subject to scale, which 

 is worse still : syringing with warm soapy water will do much to act as a pre- 

 ventive. During winter, when the foliage is off, a painting of soft-soap, soot, 

 and sulphur would kill scale — a brushing with soft-soap and water would 

 destroy the greater portion of insect life. When Pears have made good 

 growth, it is well to begin shortening the young shoots in time. The method 

 of stripping the trees all at once is objectionable : some do not allow the young 

 growths to form at all, but we prefer the medium course, and begin at top of the 

 trees, say about the third week in June, and shorten back about a third of 

 them ; in a few weeks later the middle portion of the trees are trimmed back, 

 and later the bottom portion of the tree has attention. We have seen this 

 system answer admirably : with many years in succession there were loads of fruit 

 always to thin off. In autumn, when growth ceased, the shoots were well cut 

 in, and many buds were thus formed. In winter there was little else to be done. 

 Apples as espaliers we would always treat in the same manner. When wood be- 

 came extra gross and spongy, root-lifting piecemeal is had recourse to ; not 

 left to winter, as is often done, but during the latter part of summer or early in 

 autumn. Suckers must not be allowed to grow, but be taken off as soon 

 as they appear. Cherries and Plums are very liable to form suckers also, 

 and should be often looked over to see that none are growing from the roots 

 or below the graft. Grafts must be looked over, and the ties partially 



