246 On the CiiUivation and Jllanao-ement 



'ft' 



trees run up tall and straggling, and thus occupy much room ; but 

 rather keep them dwarfed as much as possible, and never obtain 

 a greater height than five feet, with a good shaped head. Peach 

 trees always produce their fruit on the previous year's wood, and 

 if the gardener bears this in mind, he will never allow any old 

 useless wood on the trees, but will always have them present a 

 green and vigorous appearance. 



Watering. — Give supplies of water every day when the pots 

 are placed under cover, or not plunged in the ground ; twice a 

 week, after the fruit is sef, liquid manure should be applied ; and 

 if the surface of the soil is covered with an inch or two of coarse 

 manure, it will serve to prevent evaporation and strengthen the 

 plants. The trees should also be syringed, when under cover, 

 two or three times a week, and if in the open air, at least once 

 a week, throughout the season. 



Jlir. — In the first stage of the putting forth of the blossoms, 

 not but little air should be admitted ; but as soon as they show 

 signs of opening, it should then be given in large quantities. 

 Syringing should also be omitted until the fruit is set. By this 

 time the season will be so far advanced, that if they are in a 

 green-house or grapery, the air that is usually given to the other 

 plants will be sufficient for the peach trees. 



Fruiting. — When the fruit begins to color, the watering ghould 

 be partially withheld ; and when it assumes nearly a ripe state, 

 still less quantities must be applied. By this means, the culti- 

 vator has it in his power to give the fruit a fine flavor, which 

 those grown in the ordinary method seldom or never acquire. 

 We never tasted finer specimens of peaches than those we have 

 raised in pots. The heavy rains which frequently fall in our cli- 

 mate in the month of September, often renders a large part of 

 those produced on trees in the garden very inferior in flavor. 



Insects. — The insects which do the most injury to the peach 

 tree are the borer (iEgeria exitiosa. Say), the curculio (C. ne- 

 nuphar, Herbot), and the aphides (A^phis rosse L.) The first is 

 the most destructive, not only to the peach tree, but also to the 

 plum, the apple, &c. The eggs of this insect are laid on the 

 bai'k, at the base of the stem, and, as soon as the grub hatches, 

 it eats its w^ay under it, and continues to bore down and around 

 the stem, until it has, in fact, girdled the tree, thus causing its 

 death. The first sign that they infest a tree is the appearance 

 of gum, at the surface of the soil in the pots, immediately around 

 the stem. As soon as this is perceived, they should be cut out 

 with a sharp-pointed penknife ; and if they have penetrated far 

 down, a small wire should be run in to destroy the insect. The 

 trees should be often looked over, in order to keep them free 

 from their depredations — as we do not know of any certain pre- 

 ventive. The curculioj which may be described as a small 



