Management of the Peach Tree. 55 



more permanent ; for it is that adhesive principle the soil here 

 requires, We have many old trees at this place, still carrying 

 the marks of having been originally treated in the same manner, 

 which are now failing, when they should be in their prime. For 

 my part, I should advise that the soil immediately in contact 

 with the root be slightly inferior in point of richness to the rest, 

 as on the consequent formation of the head for two years after 

 planting, much of the well furnishing of the wall eventually 

 depends. There may be some who are blessed with a soil so 

 well adapted by nature, that they may consider such particular 

 care superfluous ; but there are many, also, who, if they do 

 not coincide with the opinions here expressed, know it will 

 not do to let them take their chance without making some pro- 

 vision. With regard to Agronome's opinion, that " trees will 

 never go into bad soil if they have plenty of food," I consider 

 the assertion rather paradoxical ; because I know that under 

 certain circumstances they will enter pernicious matter, and at 

 improper depths ; and no doubt they extract thence the seeds 

 of disease, as may be frequently seen in the consequent failure 

 of their heads. I am, Sir, &c, 



Robert Errington, 

 Oulton Park, Cheshire, Dec. 1828, 



Art. XV. On the Management of the Peach Tree. 

 By H. John Newington, 



Sir, 

 I have heard it frequently observed by many gentlemen, 

 that the British gardeners are more deficient in the manage- 

 ment of peach and nectarine trees, than in most other parts of 

 their profession. This is not only the -complaint of the gen- 

 tlemen, but the confession of the gardeners themselves, and is 

 equally referable to the trees on the wall and in the forcing- 

 house. The frequent failure of these crops arises, in my 

 opinion, from the manner in which they prune their trees. It 

 is the endeavour of every cultivator to procure annually a 

 great supply of long and strong wood, sufficiently large to 

 make basket rods, and from these he expects his crop; but 

 nothing can be more unnatural or erroneous than this system 

 of pruning. Whoever has seen these trees in Malta or Ame- 

 rica, and noticed the very short and small wood from which 

 such large peaches are produced, would immediately contemn 

 the British gardener's practice. Mr. Harrison, the eminent 



e 4 



