CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



sap. The slips are to be bound quite tigbt with 

 rope-yarn, and the composition of Forsyth, or a mixt- 

 ure of loam and cow-dung, must be applied, and this 

 cohered with a coarse cloth. This method of treat- 

 ment has been successfully practised; the slips ad- 

 here closely, and, being full of sap, soon become firm 

 and smooth. Instead of bark slips, small twigs may 

 be successfully applied in a similar manner. 



SPRING FROSTS, AND OTHER CAUSES AFFECTING THE 

 BLOSSOMS. 



Every cultivator of fruit trees has experienced more 

 or less disappointment in his expected crop of apple, 

 pear, arid other fruit trees, after having exhibited the 

 fairest prospect in the vernal season. While in fall 

 blossom, and the fruit just beginning to form, the pe- 

 tals are cast off like the dead leaves in autumn. This 

 incid-ent is said to be occasioned by warm and drying 

 winds, by which the vigour of the trees is diminished. 

 In one instance it appears that a remedy has been suc- 

 cessfully applied, and the loss and inconvenience pre- 

 vented. J. Sowerby, esquire, in the spring of 1815, 

 observed that the drying winds generally succeeded 

 the blossoming of his fruit trees ; the whole used to 

 be blown off about the time of the setting of the young 

 fruit. Deeming it probable that a good dose of water 

 at the roots would strengthen the tree, and save the 

 fruit, the experiment was tried, and the good effect 

 was perceived in twenty-four hours ; the young fruit 

 then resisted the attack of the winds, and a large crop 

 was produced. Not only were the trees enabled to 

 produce their fruit in abundance, but also to increase 

 them in size to nearly double. The blossoms of ap- 

 ple trees are liable to be injured or destroyed by va- 

 rious other causes ; as severe cold, a hazy state of the 

 atmosphere, frosts, and insects of various kinds ; and 



