NECTARINE. 93 



After a shower of rain is a good time, as the gum can then be 

 more easily discovered ; and when it is removed, the wound 

 will soon heal up, and the danger is over, provided the ground 

 be kept cultivated around the trees, and the collar, or that 

 part from which emanate the main roots, be near the surface. 



This is an important precaution, and should be attended 

 to at the time of transplanting all descriptions of trees and 

 smaller plants ; because deep planting prevents the essential 

 circulation of the juices of plants in their regular and natural 

 courses, and, consequently, causes disease and premature 

 death ; and it must be admitted, that from the circumstance 

 of this fruit being generally raised on standard trees, and in 

 a light soil, our cultivators are apt to plant too deep ; and 

 thus act contrary to sound judgment and philosophy, with a 

 view to save the trouble and expense of staking or otherwise 

 supporting their newly-planted trees, which precaution is 

 absolutely necessary to their preservation, even in less tem- 

 pestuous climates, and in stiff as well as in light soil. 



Saltpetre dissolved in the proportion of one pound to five 

 gallons of water, and applied round the stems and roots of 

 trees, as recommended for plants in general, is, in my opin- 

 ion, one of the best remedies for the destruction of various 

 kinds of insects ; it is, moreover, allowed by modern and 

 learned physiologists to contain the most essential nutriment 

 to all descriptions of trees or smaller plants, when judiciously 

 used. Other remedies are recommended to be applied for 

 the destruction of these insects around fruit trees, besides 

 those previously mentioned ; as, dissolved potash, coal tar, sul 

 phur and lime-mortar mixed, vinegar, soapsuds, &c. Culture, 

 upon correct principles, will, however, in general operate 

 not only as a radical cure, but as a preventive to all defects 

 in trees and plants ; which, to be healthy and productive, 

 should be so managed that the sap and nutrimental juices 

 can circulate through every pore which nature has designed 

 for their perpetuity. (See article on the choice of Fruit 

 Trees in the Nursery ; also, article Peach.) 



