FRUIT GROWING PROBLEMS 127 



Plum Tree Infested by Aphis 



Q. I send you cuttings from a Plum tree to get your opinion of 

 the malady and what you would recommend to cure. The whole tree is 

 affected, and other trees in its neighbourhood are slightly contami- 

 nated by it. Coupar Angus. 



A. Your tree is badly affected by black aphis. The best way of 

 destroying it is to cut away all the badly affected points of the young 

 shoots and burn them, and then syringe your trees copiously with the 

 following insecticide : Boil 2^ Ib. of Quassia chips, and If Ib. of soft 

 soap, adding to them 25 gallons of water. This is a cheap and effective 

 remedy for getting rid of aphis of all sorts. To make doubly sure 

 of its destruction we should advise you to spray your trees in winter 

 with the burning alkali wash. This will destroy all insect life it 

 comes in contact with, without injury to the tree. It should be 

 applied as soon as the trees are pruned in winter. This wash may 

 be had of most seed merchants, with directions how to use. 



Meaning of Freestone and Clingstone 



Q. I often see these terms used in reference to Plums and Peaches. 

 Can you explain 1 T. 0. A., Uxbridge. 



A. The term freestone means that the flesh parts cleanly from 

 the stone when ripe. In clingstone varieties the opposite is the 

 case. Old lime rubble or mortar rubbish will do very well to mix 

 with the soil for fruit trees. Be careful not to over do it, however, 

 especially if the ground is light. 



Gumming in Stone Fruit Trees 



Q. Some of my Cherry and Plum trees are not thriving ; the 

 shoots exude a gummy substance. What can I do to cure them? 

 Southerner, Hants. 



A. Most of us who possess or have the management of gardens 

 know something about this disease, so far, at least, as its effect upon 

 the trees is concerned. No fruit trees subject to it can have a long 

 or prosperous life. There may be probably there is a predisposi- 

 tion to gumming in certain trees. The Moorpark Apricot is a notable 

 sufferer, and I suppose, speaking generally, gumming is often 

 caused by some injury to the branches, or a too free use of the knife. 

 The fungus spores find a home where the bark is broken, and subse- 

 quently gum is seen to be exuding from the wound. A tight shred, by 

 forcing the branch into contact with a nail, may break the bark and 

 provide a genial home for the fungus. When gum is seen exuding 



