REMEDY FOR THE BORER. 57 



certain, however, that there is present at certain stages bacterial 

 or algoid ferments; but whether they are the cause of the disease, 

 or simply accompany a weak state of the tree, or the natural 

 decomposition of dead matter, is only conjecture. I am led to 

 believe, after much careful study of the subject, that the latter is 

 nearer the truth than the former, and that the trees are destroyed, 

 in part or in whole, by the action of frost when the tissue has 

 become weakened and imperfectly developed, from some or all 

 of the many causes of weakness, like exhaustion from over- 

 bearing, exhaustion of the soil, injury from borers, or a very late 

 and imperfect growth caused by the use of too much nitrogenous 

 manure, or by late cultivation. The injury is always first to the 

 top, the root remaining alive often for a year or more after the 

 top is dead ; showing that the cause is the result of influences upon 

 the top when in a certain condition. Trees that .are exhausted, 

 injured or weakened from any cause, have the same yellowish 

 appearance as when attacked by the " yellows." 



Remedy. If the disease is not too far advanced, the trees may 

 be restored to their natural color and vigor by the use of complete 

 and abundance of plant food. For a single tree the following 

 preparation, put on in the fall or early in the spring, is a good 

 remedy : 



Five pounds of pure ground bone. 



Three pounds of muriate of potash. 



One or two pounds of nitrate of soda or nitrate of potash. 



In place of the ground bone and nitrate, from five to ten large 

 shovelfuls of well decomposed stable manure may be used with 

 nearly 'equal results. A mulch applied to the roots during the 

 summer months will have the tendency to protect the roots from 

 the effect of drouth and extreme heat, but it should be removed 

 the last of August or first of September, that a late growth may 

 not be caused by it. After freezing weather begins, the mulch 

 may be applied again as a protection from injury to the roots from 

 cold, and to prevent the starting of the buds during the winter. 



In the growth of the Peach, the cultivator should never let his 

 trees become exhausted and weak from injury of insects. Neither 

 should he force a late growth by the use of nitrogenous manures 

 during the summer, or by late cultivation. By constant attention 

 to their wants, keep the trees in a healthy condition. Then I 

 believe he may keep them in a productive condition for twenty, 

 twenty-five or even fifty years. 



ROTTING OF THE FRUIT. In many sections, and especially 

 during warm , wet seasons, the fruit (particularly of the early 

 varieties) is very liable to rot, often destroying the entire crop. 

 This trouble is mostly confined, however, to trees that are over- 

 loaded with fruit or that are in a poor soil. 



Remedy. Thinning the fruit will often prevent this injury, and 

 the application of an abundance of plant food early in the season, 

 when the trees are in blossom, will enable them to overcome the 

 attacks of the fungus that causes the rot. 



