108 FRUIT CULTURE. 



is alone applied as a remedy for the " yellows," 

 Professor Goessman recommends three or four 

 pounds to a tree six or eight years old, spread 

 upon a circle of eight feet radius, but not ap- 

 proaching within one foot of the trunk. A thin 

 mulch of litter spread over the ground would in- 

 sure a more uniform and a safer distribution of 

 the potash, which should be afterwards applied. 

 In this connection it should be stated that the 

 disease appears to be contagious, and that cases 

 are cited of inoculating young and vigorous 

 trees by contact with diseased trees. On the 

 other hand, repeated experiments in the free use 

 of potash have indicated that a vigor of consti- 

 tution may be given which enables the tree to 

 resist the attacks of parasitic fungi. Should 

 this prove to be true on general trial, it would 

 indeed give a new phase to peach culture, and 

 prove an inestimable boon to the country. 



NECTARINES. 



As these are only smooth-skinned varieties of 

 the peach, no special directions in regard to 

 their treatment are required. None of the va- 

 rieties reach the highest standard, in quality, of 

 the peach, and, owing to the smooth surface of 

 the skin, they are greatly subject to the attacks 

 of the curculio. For these reasons they are not 



