184 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



leaves and fruit is a certain cure for grape mildew when 

 done early enough. So it is for mildew on hops, and I 

 believe it will be found efficient on the gooseberry." 



"Here is the 'tree tomato' so much talked about. 

 This plant has been in the green-house all winter, and is 

 almost as stiff as a dwarf apple tree. It is quite hand- 

 some, and the French papers speak of its productiveness, 

 hardiness, and other good qualities in high terms." 



"No doubt about that. If you have time, toma- 

 toes can be trained on trellises or on a 

 board fence so as to present a very beautiful 

 appearance, and also to produce a large 

 quantity of fruit of superior quality. The 

 plan you allude to was described in the 

 •Genesee Farmer for June 1857. Drive stakes 

 :iHo the ground when the plants are set out 

 — and as they grow nail some strips of wood 

 across so as to form an espalier to train the 

 plants upon, a foot apart. Long thin poles 

 tied to the stakes will answer just as well. 

 Train the main stem right up the post and 

 when it has set the first branch of fruit 

 pinch out the leading shoot to one leaf 

 above the bunch of fruit. It will immediate- 

 ly push another leader, and also throw out laterals from 

 'he bottom. Train these laterals along the trellise on 

 each side of the main stem, and when they have set the 

 lirst bunch of fruit pinch out the leader to one leaf, the 

 same as in the main stem. They will soon push again 

 and set another bunch of fruit, which must be treated in 

 the same way. Mr. Salter, who has raised them in this 

 w#y for many years, thinks the fruit is everyway superior, 

 and certainly they look much better than when allowed 

 to trail on the ground." 



"The poet Shelley sighed for a 'small house and a 

 large garden.' Very poetical doubtless, but a little ex- 

 perience would have convinced him of his eror. A small 

 garden is a great deal better when it is cultivated as a 

 recreation. I should want it a little bigger than a China- 

 man's garden on the top of a house, or on the deck of a 

 canal boat, but not so large that I could not do most of 

 the labor, except digging, with my own hands. Such a 

 garden, for all persons engaged in sedentary pursuits in 

 our cities and villages, who have any taste for horticulture, 

 would prove the source of much pleasure and afford 

 healthful occupation for many a leisure hour. The best 

 gardens in this country — those most thoroughly culti- 

 vated — generally belong to such persons. With few ex- 

 ceptions, farmer's gardens do 'not deserve the name." 



" Look at this Wistaria. These vines have been here 

 for several years, but never looked so well before. They 

 are entirely covered with flowers, and nothing can be 

 more beautiful. I suppose the reason is that the fine 

 weather last summer and autumn ripened up the wood 

 perfectly." 



" Imnfature wood is the source of most of the failures 

 and diseases in fruit and ornamental trees. I am accused 

 of having a sort of immature wood mania. Few people 

 can bring themselves to think that the pear blight, curl 

 of the leaf in peaches, black knot in the plum, and a 

 thousand and one diseases that atfect fruit and ornamen- 



tal trees are all attributable to immature wood. But in 

 my opinion this is one ot the principle causes. In every 

 department of Natural Science we see a vast number of 



THE TREE TOMATO. 



effects produced by one cause. In fact this causes the 

 admirable simplicity which the student everywhere per- 

 ceiving in the laws of nature. Look at the law of gravi- 

 tation. What an infinite number of different effects, ex- 

 tending through all space, are produced from one cause." 

 " And so it is no objection to the theory that a great 

 number of apparently diverse effects in horticulture are 

 produced by the simple cause of immature wood. But I 

 must not mount my hobby at this time." 



"According to Dr. Fitch we are not likely to be so 

 much troubled with aphides this summer as last. But. 

 there are a few already on this pear tree. Soap suds, or 

 tobacco water, if thoroughly applied, is said to be good." 



" The Curculio can be kept under. Ellwanger & Bar- 

 ry raise magnificent plums every year in their grounds. 

 Jarring the trees is the only known remedy. Merely 

 I shaking the trees will not bring down the 'little Turk.' 



