DISEASES OF FRUIT TREES. 145 



although it will be found that there is a difference be- 

 tween a cankerous wound and canker produced from 

 natural causes. 



Some localities are more conducive to canker than 

 others, and when this is the case among Peaches oe 

 Cherries, and it becomes very troublesome, I advise one 

 of two things ; that is, either to abandon the growing 

 of those kinds which are so much subject to the disease, 

 or to spare no pains to adapt the soil to the well-being 

 of the trees. The borders should be raised well above 

 the level of the natural soil (especially if the subsoil is 

 of a cold nature), and this should be first of all dug 

 deep and have an abundance of lime rubbish turned 

 into the bottom. It should also have plenty of this 

 mixed with the soil. 



Maiden loam and coarse sand may improve the 

 soil, and if of a flat, cold, and clayey nature, a good 

 proportion of peat and decomposed leaf-mould may be 

 mixed in deep with it. These composts will, no doubt, 

 render a soil which is too cold for stone fruit suitable 

 and productive in other respects, and will also prevent 

 canker. 



In pruning and cutting off large limbs, as I have 

 said before, trim the saw-cut over with a keen-edged 

 knife quite smooth, and then paint it with a little graft- 

 ing-wax just warm. 



Insects. — Fruit trees of all kinds are exposed to the 

 attacks of various kinds of insects. The Plum is liable 

 to be attacked by the blue aphides, the Peach to the 

 green and brown kinds, and the Cherry to that of the 

 black kind. Each of these pests appears suddenly in 

 myriads, and if not quickly dispatched they will so 

 increase that they will soon dispatch the fruit on the 

 tree. In the orchard-house they are easily got rid of 

 by fumigating, but on walls in the open air this is not 

 so easily done. Powdered tobacco is a good remedy; 

 and so is tobacco-water, and the clean solution of tfhe 

 Gishurst compound, not too strong, will also prove 

 effectual. A strongly impregnated solution of stone- 

 brimstone will no doubt be as good as anything, when 



H 



