316 



CHAPTER XXVL 



OF THE CANKER, AND GUM. 



A Description of the Canler ; its Origin and Progress. — Full 

 Directions for Curing it, — Of the Gum and its Remedy, 



1 HE Canker is a disease incident to trees, which 

 occasions the bark to grow rough and scabby, 

 and turns the wood affected to a rusty brown 

 colour. This disease, if no remedy be apphed, 

 will in time totally kill the tree. 



Apple-trees are very liable to be infected with 

 ijie canker from the following causes, viz. 



From injudicious pruning, from the foot-stalks 

 of the fruit being left on the trees, and from 

 injuries sustained by applying ladders in gathering 

 the fruit ; these injuries are very hurtful to the 

 trees, and will infallibly bring on the canker when 

 no remedy is applied. A man ought to stand on 

 steps, instead of a ladder, when the fruit is out 

 of his reach from the ground. Care should also 

 be taken in nailing, that the shreds be not too 

 tight, which causes a swelhng in the shoot, and 

 very often produces the canker. 



Another cause of the canker is, when we have 

 very wet Autumns, such as that of 1799, which 

 prevents the young wood from ripening, and a 



