34 GARDENING 



time ; and in very hot weather damp the foHage 

 again at dusk, so that the leaves may remain moist 

 all night. They should be open at 7 A.M., so that 

 the foliage may dry before the sun gets on it. It 

 is a good plan to syringe the wall and woodwork 

 three or four times a day. 



To Ripen Peaches on a Wall. — Keep the 

 young growth thin, so that the fruits are well 

 exposed to the sun. After the stoning is completed 

 and they show signs of colouring, the trees should 

 be looked over and all leaves overhanging the fruit 

 should be tied back, or a few leaves may be 

 removed ; or cut part of the leaves away. In dry 

 weather peach trees on a south wall should be 

 watered with a hand syringe. Should black fly 

 attack the points of the shoots, dust the parts 

 affected with tobacco powder and the following 

 morning syringe vigorously. 



Peaches are subject to ' the gum,' mildew, and 

 blistered leaves. 



The best time to gather peaches is when they are 

 firmly grasped by the hand, and, with a slight 

 backward pull, they will part from the tree. A pad 

 of cotton wool laid in the hand is sometimes used. 

 Peaches are generally fit for gathering when there 

 is a change of colour near the base of the fruit. 

 The early morn is the best time to gather them, 

 and, if put away on cotton wool, they will keep 

 from three to five days. They are always better 

 for eating twelve hours after gathering. 



Peaches gumming.— This is generally caused 

 by the branches having been tied too tightly, 

 checking the regular flow of sap, and the bark 

 swells about the ligature ; also the young shoots 

 coming into close contact with freshly galvanised 



