EFFECTS OF PEACH STOCK ON TREES WOliKED UPON IT. 231 



Two years from this time, if left undisturbed, it will usually 

 produce a small crop of fruit, and the next season bear abun- 

 dantly, unless the growth is over-luxuriant." He also justly 

 obsei'ves that " healthy Peach-stocks afford the most natural 

 foundation for the growth of standard orchard trees." There 

 can be no question as to that ; but when on this stock whole 

 orchards, some containing from 10,000 to 20,000 trees, become 

 diseased in America, and when in England all on this stock, and 

 on no other, are similarly affected under ordinary circumstances, 

 we must conclude that the soil in both countries is uncongenial 

 to the Peach roots. They are soft, spongy, yellow, more like a 

 pale carrot than the roots of trees we usually see. Most probably 

 the soil is too cold for them. 



This probability is strengthened by the following instance. 

 It was stated that all trees on the Peach-stock, under ordinary 

 circumstances, Avere sooner or later affected. One of the Sliang- 

 hae trees in the Society's Garden has foliage not tinged with 

 yellow as that of the others are, although it is like them worked 

 on the Peach, and is of the same age, planted at the same time 

 in similar soil, and sharing with the others the same aspect. 

 But its luxuriant foliage exhibits a healthy dark green colour. 

 Nearly opposite to where it is planted there is the fireplace of a 

 room adjoining the fruit-room ; the lower })art of the wall is 

 there heated through to the south side, so that there the latter 

 often exhibits a dry surface, when elsewhere it is wet ; and the 

 ground adjoining has been seen thawed when all not near this 

 heated portion of wall was frozen ; it is, therefore, evident that 

 the roots of this particular tree must have been in a warmer 

 medium than those of its fellows ; and to this different circum- 

 stance, all others being the same, the difference as regards being 

 free from disease may be fairly attributed. 



These remarks may be the means of preventing the planting 

 of Peach trees worked on the Peach-stock, and consequently the 

 loss of the trees when they ought to be at their best. Excepting 

 in parts of the world where the soil is never too cold, the Peach- 

 stock ought not to be used. It is not the loss of only one planta- 

 tion that has to be considered, for in such countries, as some 

 parts of America, the trees rush up with little pains being taken, 

 and they quickly bear sufficiently to repay that little ; but pre- 

 sently disease makes its appearance, and the whole has to be cut 

 down. The ground having been once cropped with stone-fruit, 

 will not well bear such again without great expense in tending, 

 compared with which that of procuring suitable stocks in the 

 first instance would be inconsiderable. 



