Queries and Anstjoers. 



609 



Art. VII. Queries mid Ansaoers. 



_ Possibility of enlarging the size, and hastening the maturity of Fruit. 



Sir, As a proof of the possibility of materially enlarging the size and 

 hastening the maturity of fruit, I send you two peaches {figs. 131, 1,32.), just 



plucked from separate branches of the same tree, each the largest, but not 

 materially so, on its respective branch ; the smallest peach being the usual 

 state of the fruit at this season. The 

 tree is a Royal George, received from 

 Messrs. Ronalds, and has always been 

 one of the latest to ripen its fruit ; 

 but this year the fruit on one branch 

 is ripening the earliest in my garden, 

 whilst that on the other, I have no 

 doubt, will be the latest. The early 

 fruit is also nearly double the size of i 

 that hitherto produced on the same 

 tree. The cause of this great change 1 

 is accidental, but arises, I suppose, 

 from the loss of the bark on the lower 

 part of the branch : of this, however, 

 you will be the best judge, when I re- 

 late the circumstances attending it. In 

 consequence of an injury in the stock, 

 received, I believe, in the carriage 

 from the nursery, one of its three main branches, an outer one, died last 

 summer from canker. In the spring I therefore pulled down the middle 

 branch from its upright position, and nailed it nearly horizontally (which, 

 perhaps, might also produce some effect on the fruit), elevating, at the same 

 time, the remaining branch, so that the tree might again assume a shape 

 adapted to fill its allotted space on the wall. The canker having also af- 

 VOL. V. — No. 22. R R 



