104 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



of the fruit not stoning than when the wood is stout, short-jointed, and well ripened. 

 Stoning may also be impeded by a deficiency of mineral substances in the soil, those 

 most needed being silica and lime, but most soils contain enough of the first, and the 

 latter is readily supplied in old mortar rubbish, or quicklime in heavy soils, or in clay 

 marl to light soils. Where the borders (page 68) are properly made, there is seldom 

 occasion to supply more lime than is given in top-dressings of bone meal or superphos- 

 phate, but where the soil is too rich, or becomes soapy by heavy applications of manure, 

 a good dressing of quicklime, say 14 pounds per rod, equally distributed on the 

 surface and lightly pointed in, will meet all needful requirements if subsequent half 

 dressings are given annually in autumn or early in spring. 



Fruit Splitting at the Stone. This has been attributed to imperfect fertilisation of 

 the flowers, but it is confined to a few varieties only, and fertilising those with the 

 pollen of other flowers is strongly advised. An excessively rich soil, over-supplies of 

 food, and a moist and close atmosphere during the last swelling of the fruit accele- 

 rates the malady. Lifting, firming light soil, and adding clay marl to sandy, sili- 

 cious, and calcareous gravel to heavy soil, where either are too rich, are good remedial 

 measures. 



Lifting Unsatisfactory Trees. If any trees fail to set, stone, and perfect their fruit 

 they should be taken up carefully directly the growth is mature, the wood firm, and 

 the leaves beginning to fall. Experts lift peach and nectarine trees whilst the leaves 

 adhere firmly to the wood, afford shade, syringe the trees, and, if under glass, keep the 

 house rather close until they are able to bear full ventilation with exposure to light. 

 Experienced cultivators also lift indoor and outdoor trees after the buds commence 

 swelling, even when they are in blossom, or have fruit set, with satisfactory results. 

 Though it may be safe to move trees with fibrous roots at those times, it is disastrous 

 to trees with strong roots and few fibres. If the trees have roots of the latter descrip- 

 tion lifting must not be attempted until the leaves are sufficiently mature to part 

 readily from the wood, and then the roots must not be detached so near the stems as in 

 trees that have abundance of fibres. When the trees have few and strong roots a 

 trench should be taken out one-third the distance from the stern the growths extend, 

 cutting through all the roots, and this trench may remain open a fortnight, watering 

 the undisturbed part if the foliage becomes limp, even shading from powerful sun, and 

 syringing, if necessary, to keep it fresh ; then fill the trench firmly. This may be done 

 with outdoor trees towards the close of September, about the same time with those in 



