PEACH. 103 



reel principles, may be justly considered as invulnerable to 

 the attacks of insects and reptiles, as any species of healthy 

 animal creatuie in existence. 



As I have been more familiar with the cultivation of veget- 

 ables than fruits, I would state farther my views relative to 

 the Cabbage tribe. On New- York Island, in the vicinity of 

 the city, it is customary with gardeners to cut their Cabbages 

 gradually as they are required for market, and often to leave 

 their roots standing; these by some are ploughed under, 

 where they not only feed, but generate their peculiar species 

 of insects. Some gardeners take their roots and leaves to 

 the cattle yard or dung'heap, and return them back to the 

 garden the ensuing season in the shape of manure. As a 

 consequence of such practice, good Cabbages are very sel- 

 dom obtained, even after a routine of other crops, for two or 

 three years. 



With a view to illustrate the evil of deep planting, I would 

 observe farther, that when Cabbage plants are transplanted 

 in proper season and on good fresh soil, they generally prove 

 uniformly good ; whereas, if it should happen, as it some- 

 time does for want of suitable weather, that the plants can- 

 not be transplanted until they get crooked and overgrown, 

 so as to require deep planting to support them in the soil, 

 such plants, like diseased Peach trees> decay first in the 

 bark, between earth and air, and then, from being deprived 

 of a natural circulation of the vegetable juices, die, and dis- 

 charge their putrid matter in the earth, to the destruction of 

 such other plants as may be inserted in their stead. I have 

 frequently known a land of Cabbage plants filled up half a 

 dozen times, and the crop at last scarcely worth gathering, 

 whereas, could the plants have been set out while dwarfish, 

 and inserted their proper depth in the ground, the cultivator 

 would have been rewarded a hundred fold. 



I dislike tautology, but cannot avoid repeating my humble 

 opinion, that deep planting and injudicious culture are the 

 causes of most of the diseases and failures of fruit trees ; and 



