154 WHYTOCK—THE CULTIVATION OF 
their growth curled-up leaves, the inside of these being filled with 
fly. Insecticides applied with a syringe do not reach the fly. I 
find tobacco-powder dusted on them clears off the fly. 
2. Red Spider. 
Copious and vigorous syringing twice daily is the only sure 
preventive for this. 
3. Mildew. 
Some varieties are very subject to it. Soapy water and sul- 
phur applied frequently keep it in check. 
Dropping of the buds is probably one of the most serious 
things affecting the peach-tree. It happens all over the country 
irrespective of the circumstances under which the tree is grown. 
It has been long attributed chiefly to dryness at the root. A 
gardener who had charge of extensive peach-houses in this 
country, and was much troubled and puzzled over bud-dropping, 
went to Australia and grows peaches largely there. He says the 
soil in which the peaches grow there becomes at certain seasons 
as dry as it is possible to be, and there is never any bud-dropping. 
His experience leads him now to say that dryness at root is not 
the cause of it. Early this spring I saw peach-trees in heavy 
wet soil, and a large portion of the buds had dropped. I think 
gardeners have not discovered the cause of it. It certainly 
indicates weakness, and too heavy cropping of the trees is usually 
followed by bad bud-dropping. Trees growing vigorously and 
altogether in good health do not drop buds much. 
The watering of the borders, especially inside ones, is very 
important. The borders are usually allowed to become pretty 
dry when the fruit is ripening and ripe, a dry atmosphere being 
then essential. During the autumn and winter the borders 
should get one or two good soakings, and one should be with good 
manure-water. A porous border, which is the best, will take 
more water than a stiff retentive border. 
What I have said for the peach applies equally to the nectarine, 
although I think the nectarine requires rather more heat than 
the peach to ripen. 
In a general way peaches do not do well on open walls in our 
northern climate, and so to obtain crops late into the autumn 
the walls have been covered with narrow glass houses, called 
‘peach-cases. I have had much experience with these cases, and 
