^26 Memoirs (f the CalcdoHian Horfjcul/urnl Societi/. 



68. O/i Canker in Fruit Trees, dej)cn(Iing npcn bad Subsoil. Hy 

 Mr. Peter Campbell, Gardener at Coulston, East Lothiaii. 



JNIr. CainpboU agrees witli various other gardeners in 

 " tliiiikiiifj that canker is owinjj to a stintiness that takes 

 place in the trees from a bad subsoil." He found tiie trees 

 under his care rootinjj doAvn into a sand mixed with some 

 cla}' of a reddish colour, and interspersed with veins of saml 

 as black as ink. He found the roots that went into this 

 black sand quite swelletl and overgrown; and, on examining 

 the inner jiart of the wood of the root, he found it of an iron 

 colour, and very hard. He then set about removing the sv»r- 

 face soil to the depth of 1 S in., and for the space 3 ft. all 

 round the tree; lie tlien cut the tap roots that went right 

 down. 



" I then made two cuts opposite each other, as low as the under part of 

 the triuik, so as to place a beam of wood across below the trunk, and to 

 prevent it from sitting down or sinking, owing to its being so nnich hol- 

 lowed out below. 1 then cut off all the roots I thought diseased, and 

 cleared the mould out another foot's distance, which was 4 ft. out from the 

 trunk ail round. Having no Hags, I floored the pit I made below the roots 

 with bricks and large slates laid close together, so as to prevent the roots 

 from entering into the black sand again; and formed the flooring of a con- 

 cave form rather than even or level, so as to make the roots or young 

 fibres incline upwards, which is a great means to prevent the roots from 

 entering so soon into the sut)soiI. I mixed good mould with very rotten 

 cowdimg, and fdled u]) the pit with it; at the same time beating in every 

 course below the trunk of the tree with the end of a beater made for the 

 purpose, so as to prevent the tree from sliding down too iiard on the beam 

 of wood 



" The second operation is the pruning of the tops of the trees. I com- 

 menceil on one side of the trees, and pruned regularly round, cutting ofJ'aU 

 the cankers, not leaving one branch or bit of wood that had a canker in it 

 on any of the trees. In some of the trees I primed two thirdsof the wood ; 

 others I pruned, leaving only one fifth part of the wood; which operation 

 was executed according to the state tlie tree was in. 



" By tills treatment, the trees are become (piite healthy, and free from any 

 moss or lichen ; and not tiie least appearance of a canker, where formerly 

 every year's growth cankered the second year, and had done so, as far as 1 

 could observe by numbering tiie growths or shoots, for ten years back. 1 

 have done espalier, wall, and standard apple trees in the moile before stated ; 

 and it is to be observed that all the trees, excejjt one, are above forty 

 years old." 



(jy. 0)1 tJic Gcrniiiialion of Seeds, a>id subsequent Vegelnlion. By 

 .John Murray, Kscp' F.L.S. &c. Head June 7. 1827. 



There is no philosopher of the present day more active in 

 his researches tiian Mr. Murray, and many of these liave ended 

 in impoitant practical results. JSIr. Murray has the great ad- 

 vantage of being, or having been, a practical man. 



" Mustard and cress were sown on black woollen cloth kept constantly 

 wet. The germination was tardy, the growth exceedingly dwarfish, and 



