564 



PEACHES. 



failure of Peach Trees in the Northern States to a change 

 which has taken place in the climate since that period, or to 

 the worms which attack their roots — to both these causes, 

 or to any others, cannot be, perhaps, satisfactorily ascer- 

 tained. I shall endeavour, however, to give such directions 

 to the industrious cultivator as in my opinion will insure 

 good and regular crops of fruit, and in the greatest state of 

 perfection ; but they are intended only for the industrious 

 cultivator. He that will plant Peach Trees in a slovenly 

 manner, and expect to do nothing more, may as well make 

 up his mind to do without fruit, or to be satisfied with any 

 inferior fruit that nature may chance to give him. 



PROPAGATION OF PEACHES. 



In this country they are generally budded on peach stocks. 

 Their growth is very rapid, and they will form a tree large 

 enough to transplant from the nursery, the first and second 

 seasons after budding. The rapidity of the growth of 

 Peaches and Nectarines here, is so great as frequently to 

 excite the astonishment of English gardeners ; but notwith- 

 standing the rapid growth of our Peaches, and their coming 

 to maturity so early, with but little care and trouble on the 

 peach stock, it must at the same time be admitted they too 

 often come to decay with almost the same celerity. A ques- 

 tion here v/ill naturally arise on this subject, what can be 

 done to remedy this ? I answer, first, I think the peach stock 

 is defective ; it is not sufficiently strong and lasting to make 

 a permanent tree, the roots are soft and delicate, very liable 

 to rot in cold heavy ground, particularly if siiffered to stand 

 in a sod, or where the ground is not kept clean, dry, 

 and manured every season : secondly, supposing that the 

 trees are planted in a warm, dry, free soil, (which is the 

 proper soil for the Peach,) they are liable to the attacks of 

 the worm, which eats into their roots, and barks the trees 

 all round, until they completely destroy them. No better 

 method of destroying these worms has as yet been discover- 

 ed than simply digging round the trees, and examining the 

 places, and where gum is seen oozing out, there the worm 

 may generally be found, and destroyed. 



I think an effectual remedy against this intruder may be 

 found by budding Peaches and Nectarines on the common 

 bitter Almond Stock. The worm does not hke this stock. 

 Peaches will take on it, and grow nearly as free as en the 



