49Q ORCHARDS. 



case we have examined, before the different parts of the flower are decayed. 

 It often appears that not more than one flower in the cluster is infected: the 

 fruit of the infected flower does not swell as the others, which continue their 

 growth, until the mortification has by degrees descended through the stem, to 

 the woody part of the fruit spur, over which it spreads, and ascends the stems 

 of the remaining part of the cluster, which may readily be observed, by a dis- 

 colouration of them as it advances. In this section of the country the disease 

 will be found to have advanced thus far by the first of June, when the leaves 

 on the fruit spur, so atfecled, will be found withering. After this, the rapidity 

 with which it spreads, depends on circumstances. Where there is the greatest 

 quantity of alburnum, or elaborated sap, the disease spreads with the greatest 

 rapidity, which is increased by the rtate of the atmosphere; as in warm moist 

 weather it progresses further than when dry and cool. 



"It is not till the middle of June, that this disease begins to manifest itself 

 to superficial observers. About this time the mortification from the fruit spurs, 

 will nave reached the limbs; and where they are numerous, and most of them 

 affected, they will in a short lime destroy tlie branch, so as to cut off all com- 

 munication between the bark and wood. As the ascending sap passes through 

 the sap-wood to the leaves, before it is elaborated, this communication is not 

 cut off until later in the season, and the outer ends of the limbs remain green, 

 until the disease has penetrated the wood; at which time the ascent of the sap 

 is cut off, and the whole limb becomes discoloured in a short time, often in the 

 space of a few hours. 



"We do not pretend to be such an adept in the science of vegetable patholo- 

 gy, as to be able to describe the manner in which the virus of this disease acts 

 upon the healthy parts of the tree; but of this we are satisfied, by repeated ex- 

 periments, that it is as capable of being communicated by infection as the small- 

 pox, or any disease to which the human family is subject. " The manner in which 

 we have conducted these experiments is as follows: We have taken the dis- 

 coloured vivid matter from between the bark and wood of a diseased limb, and 

 put it beneath the bark of a healthy tree, in some instances covering the wound 

 with a strip of rag, which had been dipped in melted grafting wax, in others 

 leaving the incision open; in some instances the quantity of -virus introduced 

 into the healthy tree was not greater than would be used to inoculate a person 

 for the small-pox; and yet in every instance, within from three to five days, the 

 disease has shown itself spreading the same as in a tree which had it the. 

 'natural way.' 



"Trees do not have it the natural way until they have put forth blossoms. 

 We have repeatedly seen young trees growing near those which were in a 

 diseased state, which remained in perfect vigour, and this present season we 

 have examined one which was of a large size which had never produced any 

 blossoms before, and this year only upon one small limb, which produced one 

 dozen bunches of flowers, nearly all of which were diseased, so that we think 

 by the first of July the limb will have turned as black as if it had been scorched 

 by fire. 



"Amputation is the only remedy known at present. As soon as the disease 

 is observed, the limb should be cut off below where it can be discovered, in 

 doing which the operator should remember that the smallest quantity of virus 

 is sufficient to communicate it to a healthy part, if brought in contact between 

 the bark and the wood; he should, therefore, be careful not to use an instru- 

 ment for amputation which has been used to examine the diseased parts, unless 

 it has been thoroughly cleansed. 



"We have been thuslengthy in regard to this disease, because it is one of vital 

 importance to every farmer who would cultivate a valuable orchard, or is fond 

 of this delicious fruit." 



The Peach Tree. A rich sandy loam is the soil best suited 

 to the peach tree. If the soil be not naturally of this descrip- 

 tion, a bushel or two of sand thrown around the root of the tree 

 at planting will greatly improve it. Some writers say the ground 

 should never be manured with stable dung. If the ground is 



