NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 57 



r 



however, things have changed, and now a really healthy 

 peach tree is rarely to be met with. Premature decay seems 

 to have attacked old and young trees alike : so much so that 

 many orchards which were once noted for the quantity and 

 quality of their peaches have almost died out. Unfortunately 

 no specific has as yet been discovered for the prevention of 

 this blight. Exhaustion of the soil is not the cause ; for we 

 have seen trees planted in virgin soil and in the course of two 

 or three years they have shared the same fate as those of 

 longer growth. Vigorous cutting back and top-dressing with 

 half-inch bones and with lime has been suggested; while some 

 experienced gardeners think that a total change of stocks for 

 grafting upon would have a beneficial effect Almond stones 

 have been imported with this view. Professor Kirk, in his 

 report on fruit blights and deseases of fruit trees in New 

 Zealand, recommends the use of the mussel plum stock. He 

 thinks that its adoption would once more allow of the profit- 

 able cultivation of the peach. Planting. Peaches are very 

 impatient of wet ; they require a light rich loam. Plant 

 .almost on the surface, as directed for apples, and stake if 

 necessary. Pruning has not been practised much in the past, 

 but as the trees are now more difficult of growth it may be 

 better to pay a little attention to it in the future. The 

 principal points to observe will be to thin out or remove 

 superfluous shoots, in order to ensure sufficient light and a 

 due circulation of air to the remainder. 



The Nectarine. This fruit requires exactly the same 

 treatment as that recommended for the peach. It is, how- 

 ever, more susceptable to injury from exposure to hot parching 

 winds. 



Select List of Peaches and Nectarines. 



Peaches : American Pound, Early Beatrice, Lady Palmerston, 

 Late Admiral, Noblesse, Red Magdalene, Tunmer's Surprise, 

 and Royal George. Nectarines : Red Roman, Stanwick, and 

 Oldenburg. 



The Plum. A good sound loam is the soil best suited 

 for plums. Plant in rows fifteen feet apart each way. They 

 require little pruning as standards, except thinning out to 

 .give light and air, and to throw additional vigour to the 

 bearing branches. Some varieties of the plum : such, for 



