AMERICAN HOME GAEDEN. 263 



Its first and sufficient indication is the too early ripening of 

 the fruit upon the tree, which as yet seems to be in health. 

 This is followed, probably the very next season, by the growth 

 of short feeble shoots from the obscure buds of the older branch- 

 es, a change in the general aspect of the foliage, still more 

 prematm'e ripening or dropping of the fruit, which has now 

 become darkly blotched with brown or purplish spots, beneath 

 which the flesh is rotting, the tree becoming more and more 

 sickly in its appearance until it dies. 



The only known palliatives, or rather preventives, are mod- 

 erate manuring, ordinary summer cultivation of the groimd, so 

 as to secure for them regular plowing, &e., which this tree feels 

 almost as quickly as a cabbage ; the choice of an exposed situ- 

 ation, to avoid winter killing, to which, in northern latitudes, 

 it is liable w'hen thus treated in warm exposures ; and the an- 

 nual cutting back of all young shoots to one half or one third 

 the length of their last season's growth, with such other win- 

 ter pruning as the condition of the tree may seem to require. 



Severe winter pruning and good culture immediately after 

 the occurrence of the first indication will, to all appearance, 

 perfectly restore the tree ; but if these are discontinued, it re- 

 tmTis the following season to its former state. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FRUIT-TREES AND FRUIT. 



For general remarks upon insects and their habits, see page 

 94. 



As certain plants are supposed to serve as a protection to 

 vegetable crops, so certain essences, &c., himg in vials in the 

 trees, have been suggested as a defense for fruits. For this 

 purpose, the essences of peppermint, tansy, and pennyroyal are 

 sometimes used ; also, spirits of tui'pentine against the rose 

 bug, and ammonia as offensive to the plum weevil. 



Decoys, or wide-mouthed bottles half filled with sweetened 

 water, have been used with good effect for catching wasps and 

 the larger bugs ; and it is said by a recent wTiter that these 

 are much more efficient if the mouth of the bottle be closed, and 

 an entrance made by breaking a hole in the side. Once in, the 

 insects do not so readily find the way out. 



