OS THE CANKEll IN APPLE TEEES. 243 



With regard to apple, as well as other fruit-trees, for the kitchen 

 garden, I am persuaded that what I call the platform mode is, 

 of all others, the best adapted to keep trees under the necessary- 

 control ; and I am glad to see that Mr. Eeid, whose opinions are 

 recorded in Part III. of this Journal, page 176, has found this 

 mode of planting perfectly satisfactory. 



I have always found fruit-trees with deep roots more liable to 

 suffer by spring blights than those with roots near the surface ; 

 and no wonder. Every tree is, of course, liable to suffer by- 

 spring frosts, as well as the attack of various insects. But the 

 great and essential difference is, that there is a much earlier as 

 well as more wholesome action of root in the tree with plenty of 

 surface roots ; consequently, any damage in the system is the 

 sooner repaired. 



I find it thus with my out-door peaches, which are on platforms 

 of only one foot to fifteen inches in depth. If they receive a 

 check, they rally immediately, and have completed all the growth 

 necessary, as far as length of young wood is concerned, almost 

 as soon as the deep rooted trees have been enabled to rally their 

 powers for a late and immature growth. The out-door peaches 

 liere were never finer than this season^ — not a leaf wrong ; and 

 this in a climate so far north of London, a neighbourhood pecu- 

 liarly liable to chilling winds and rains, and where, in former 

 days, flued walls were deemed essential. 



To revert to the apple, I would strongly advise those who wish 

 to follow up a dvvai'fing system, to adopt the platform mode, not 

 only with the apple, but with all other fruits. Be it remem- 

 bered, however, that a light sandy soil will never answer if the 

 platforms are shallow ; nothing but a sound and adhesive loam 

 will ensure stability. There is no occasion to rob the best 

 pasture of the turf; the headlands of old rest loamy land, pro- 

 viding it is sound, will suffice ; and it is astonishing how little of 

 this will be sufficient for a platform. To make whole borders of 

 this material is madness. Since I came to Oulton Park, now 

 eighteen years ago, I have planted some scores of fruit-trees on 

 platforms of this kind, and I have at all times found them all tliat 

 can be desired; indeed, there is perhaps less canker here than in 

 any gardens of the same extent in England. 



Before concluding, I may, perhaps, be allowed to add a sin- 

 gular circumstance which occured here, and wliich, I conceive, 

 tends to throw light on the principle of thorough ripening of the 

 wood in fruit-trees. In the year 1829 I had to remove a row of 

 apple-trees, which had been planted about five years. They had 

 evidently been planted in rich soil, as was evidenced by the gross 

 character of the young wood. Amongst them was a Kerry pippin, 

 which had been dying at the points of the young wood for a year 



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