No. 7. 



Diseases of Peach Trees. 



209 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Diseases of Peach Trees. 



It is now universally admitted, that inde- 

 pendent of the worm which attacks the roots 

 of peach trees, they are subject to a disease 

 commonly called the yellows, which is the 

 great destroyer; and some even doubt the 

 injurious agency of the worm, unless pre- 

 vious disease has invited its attack. 



In searching for the causes of disease ei- 

 ther in plants or animals-, it is essential that 

 we examine into the various circumstances 

 that attend a state of health and vigour, and 

 also that we carefully note every attending 

 circumstance connected with the diseased 

 condition of the subject under examination, 

 and then by a careful comparison of these 

 two trains of circumstances, we may be led 

 to see the cause of the disease, and perhaps 

 to suggest a remedy, or to direct a course 

 of proceeding whicli will prevent a recur- 

 rence of the malady. 



The functions of the roots of trees are all 

 to be performed beneath the surface of the 

 earth, and they grow downwards, or below 

 the. surface; the functions of the boll or 

 stem, are all to be performed in the open 

 air, above the surface of the earth; the 

 crown of the root is intermediate, and ap- 

 pears to be a seat of peculiar vitality, for 

 although the roots may be much cut and 

 trimmed, and the top or stem may be en 

 tirely amputated, yei the tree will grow and 

 flourish, but if the crown of the root is in- 

 jured in any considerable degree, death is a 

 certain consequence. Now it may be ob- 

 served, that in all trees of spontaneous 

 growth, the crown of the root is exposed to 

 the influence of the atmosphere, and they 

 are more hea,lthy and vigorous than those 

 which are planted so deep as to cover the 

 crown and part of the boll ; and it is well 

 known that worms are most prone to attack 

 those that are set too deep in the ground. 

 It has been estimated that one tliird of the 

 trees planted by unskilful hands, die in con- 

 sequence of deep planting; and whole or- 

 chards thus planted, have failed to furnish 

 the desired returns of fruit. All the cele- 

 brated fruit culturists who have written on 

 this subject, agree to a letter in their opin- 

 ions. One of the most celebrated, who has 

 just published a work on fruit trees, says, 

 " Deep planting is an evil much to be 

 guarded against; and many of the disap- 

 pointments which have attended the fruit 

 grower, may be traced to this cause." 



Peach trees which grow in situations 

 where the stem or body has been shaded or 

 protected from the direct and scorching rays 



of the sun, so far as my observation extends, 

 have been exempted from the yellows ; and 

 those not trimmed, or where, after thffgrovvth 

 of a year or two, they have been cut down 

 and suffered to sucker up like a bush, and 

 consequently been protected from the hot 

 sun, have appeared to enjoy better health ; 

 those grown in hedge-rows, are generally 

 long livers. Where the expedient has 

 been tried of tieing straw around the body 

 of the tree during the summer season, to 

 prevent the fly from depositing its egg on 

 the bark, and then making its way to the 

 root for winter quarters, it is a question 

 whether the benefit may not arise from the 

 protection the straw affords from tlie scorch- 

 ing sun acting with too much force on the 

 bark for the health of the tree. It has been 

 noticed that peach trees growing in grass 

 grounds, out-live those grown in ploughed 

 ground ; and in my early days, when peach 

 trees lived to a great age, they were uni- 

 formly along fences or in grass grounds, 

 where they were out of the way of cultiva- 

 tion ; and so far as my recollection serves 

 me, the stones were planted where the tree 

 was to stand, for there was no inoculation 

 in those days; all was natural fruit. In 

 ploughing a peach orchard, it is pretty cer- 

 tain that the furrows should not be turned 

 up to the trees, so as to bury part of the 

 stem, for it is well known that all trees 

 breathe through the pores or small openings 

 of the bark as well as the leaves, and bury- 

 ing the lungs of a tree in the earth, where 

 the air cannot pass freely to them, cannot 

 be a wholesome practice ; this produces the 

 same effect as too deep planting. Having 

 lost many fine cherry trees on transplanting, 

 I made inquiry of a scientific and experi- 

 enced gardener, into the cause of my ill 

 success; he informed me that it was the 

 heat of the sun on tlie tender bark, and that 

 they should be protected on the south side 

 by a board to shade the stem, till the bark 

 had become thicker and better able to bear 

 the heat, as in the nursery they shade each 

 other, by being set near together, and are ' 

 not habituated to so hot a sunshine. 



This hint led me to some speculations on 

 the subject of peach trees, which I have 

 thrown out above, for the purpose of pro- 

 moting observation, examination and inquiry 

 on the part of others, so that some addition 

 may be made to our knowledge on this in- 

 teresting subject. O. 



A NATION which would be prosperous, 

 must prosecute various branches of industry 

 and supply its vital wants, mainly by the 

 abour of its own hands. 



