136 FRUIT-GARDENING. 



ted that they too often decay with almost the same celerity. 

 A question here will naturally arise on this subject. What can 

 be done to remedy this ? 



" CAUSE OF PREMATURE DECAY. 



"I think the Peach -stock is defective, and is not sufficiently 

 strong and lasting to, make a permanent tree. The roots are 

 soft and delicate, very liable to rot in cold heavy ground, par- 

 ticularly if suffered to stand in a sod, or where the ground is 

 not kept clean, dry, and manured every season. Secondly. 

 Supposing that the trees are planted in a warm free soil (which 

 is the proper soil for the Peach) they are liable to the attacks of 

 the worm, which eats into their roots, and barks the trees all 

 around, until the trees are completely destroyed. No better 

 method of destroying these worms has been discovered than 

 simply digging round the trees, and examining the infested 

 plants, and where gum is seen oozing out, there the worm may 

 be generally found and destroyed. 



" I think an effectual remedy against this intruder may be 

 found, by budding Peaches and Nectarines on the common 

 bitter ALMOND STOCK. The worm does not like this stock. 

 Peach scions will take on it, and grow .about as freely as on 

 the common Peach-stock. Thirdly. The Peach-stock causes 

 the Peaches and Nectarines to grow too rapidly, making 

 strong shoots, these producing secondary or lateral shoots; 

 and the fruit of the following summer is produced on the 

 top of these lateral shoots, instead of being produced on the 

 principal or first shoots. This causes naked wood at the bottom ; 

 and a straggling, unsightly tree, whose branches being heavy 

 at the top with the fruit, are broken down by high winds." 



The illustrations of peach-trees represent the right way and 

 the wrong way of pruning peach-trees. If the branches be not 

 shortened in every year, the limbs will become long and bare, 

 except at the ends ; and the fruit will be very inferior. On 

 the contrary, if the ends of the limbs be clipped off the inside 

 of the top will be filled with bearing-branches of excellent 



