THE PEACH. 253 



increasing the power of the roots relatively to the branches."^ 

 The peach being a short-lived tree, it has been justly remark- 

 ed, were it allowed to expend all its accumulated sap every 

 year, it would soon exhaust itself and die of old age." 



Will any farmer fail to save his trees from this malignant 

 disease, when it costs so little labor to do so, and, when the 

 reward in 'fine luscious fruit is so tempting and valuable ? 



*Another good author asserts that " the decay of the peach 

 tree, is, in a great measure, owing to the practice of grafting, 

 whereby an imperfect union takes place ; sickly growth is 

 the consequence, and the diseased tree is then rendered vul- 

 nerable to the attacks of the worm, which completes its destruc- 

 tion. He recommends strongly the practice of planting out 

 every year, a row of the seeds of the finest peaches to be 

 obtained in the market, and pruning them in their places, 

 until they produce fruit, at which time those of inferior sorts 

 could be grafted, and others of fine flavor might be permitted 

 to remain, with the exception of their retaining health and 

 vigor for many years to come. Peaches of the finest flavor 

 may be obtained from trees the third year, by planting the 

 stone without D-raftins; or buddinor."* 



The Curled Leaf, or the Curl, is a disease to which the peach 

 tree is often liable. It generally appears about the first to 

 the middle of May, or during the early part of Jane. The 

 leaves curl or twist up, become thickened and swollen with 

 cavities on the under and reddish protuberances on the upper 

 side. They remain in this condition some two or three weeks 

 and then dry up and drop off". They are soon renewed by a 

 healthy crop of foliage, and no serious damage is sustained 

 by the tree or its fruit. The malady is caused by Ajjis 

 Percae, ()r plant lice, that puncture the leaves on the under 

 side. Those having large orchards would, perhaps, not find 

 it profitable to trouble themselves about the extermination of 

 these minute insects, but in small lots or gardens it is well to 



*NoTE. — Varieties iu this way maj* be obtained, true to their kind, that wUl be of the 

 finest quality, and being natives, are not so tender — and their duration -ndll far exceed 

 that of the finest budded varieties, and exceed them both in hardiness of tree and fruit, 

 thereby avoiding the trouble and delay incident to budding. 



