18 On Peach Trees. 



evaporating with freedom. The pores being closed, or 

 too open, were aUke injurious. Teguments of straw or 

 bass made the bark tender ; and it threw out under the 

 covering, sickly shoots. The more dense coating stop- 

 ped the perspiration. The oil invited mice and other 

 vermin, who ate the bark thus prepai-ed for their repast 

 and killed the tree. I planted in hedge rows and neai- 

 Avoods, I paved, raised hillocks of stone — I have suffer- 

 ed them to grow from the stone only, grafted on vari- 

 ous stocks and budded, hilled up the earth in the spring 

 and exposed the butt in the fall, sometimes I have used 

 the knife freely — frequently have left the tree to shoot 

 in every direction — I have scrubbed the stocks or 

 trunks, with hard brushes, soap suds and sand, scraped 

 them with proper instruments : I have, for a season or 

 two under various experiments, amused myself with 

 the persuasion, that I had discovered an infallible pana- 

 cea. I had temporary success, but final disappoint- 

 ment. 



The aphis or vine fretter, and many other insects are 

 hostile to this tree. They injure it, by piercing, cur- 

 ling, and destroying its leaves. As to Jrosts, they arc 

 common enemies to all fruit. 



Having thus candidly given an account of my fai- 

 lures, which never discourage, but animate me to new- 

 projects, I mention what with me has been attended 

 with the most success. 



The worm or grub, produced by the wasp, deposit- 

 ing its progeny in the soft bark, near the surface of the 

 ground, is the most common destroyer. I remove the 

 earth, a few inches round the tree in August or Sep- 

 tember. After July the wasp ceases to pierce the bark. 



