242 On the Cultivation and Management 



tained, from a few pots of plants, sufficient to supply the wants 

 of a small family. In our climate, the peach tree is now very 

 little cultivated ; from the effects of our long cold winters, from 

 diseases, insects, soil, and other causes, it has been sadly neg- 

 lected, and if the same inattention is continued, it will not be 

 many years before there will scarcely a tree be found in our gar- 

 dens. We are sorry to see this state of things, as we believe 

 that the peach, with a little proper care, will flourish much better 

 in our gardens than many suppose. Diseases and insects are al- 

 lowed to increase ad infinitum., and the death or unhealthy state 

 of every tree is laid to the severe chmate. But as we are not 

 writing upon the culture of the peach tree as a standard, in the 

 garden or orchard, we return to our subject. 



The value of peach trees in pots is exceedingly great to those 

 persons who possess stoves and green-houses ; as a succession of 

 fruit may be produced the year round. The habit of a tree, by 

 proper care, may be wholly changed, so that it will put forth its 

 leaves and blossoms at the same time that trees naturally produce 

 their fruit. Thus, with a few trees, this desirable object may be 

 obtained. In gardens where there are green-houses alone, fruit 

 may be picked from four to six weeks earlier than from the gar- 

 den ; and even without a pit or green-house, but only a warm dry 

 cellar, the fruit may be forwarded fifteen or twenty days, and 

 with the certainty of a crop. The plants can be placed in a 

 warm situation during the warm days of March and April, and, 

 if any danger is apprehended from frost, they can easily be re- 

 moved to a sheltered situation. We have had considerable suc- 

 cess in cultivating a few plants, and the results of our observa- 

 tions we now offer to our readers, with the hope that it may assist 

 those who are desirous of procuring this delicious fruit every 

 season, in growing and managing their plants. 



There are various methods of procuring the plants — many 

 preferring one year old from the bud, others two, and some 

 three ; for ourselves, we do not approve of either, unless there 

 is need of great haste, in order to fill up the spare room in a new 

 green-house or grapery. We know it is the general custom to 

 procure budded dwarf plants from a nursery ; but this we do not 

 approve of, except in certain cases. As, however, some per- 

 sons may purchase such, we offer a few remarks on their man- 

 agement, — afterwards detailing our method, as taken from our 

 memoranda. 



When trees are selected from the nursery for pots, choose 

 those which have been budded as near the soil as possible, and 

 which are either upon their own or almond stocks, and one year 

 old. The branches should be tolerably numerous, and spring out 

 at regular distances on the stem. Be carefnl and select such as 

 are free from borers, gum, canker, &.c. They should also be 



