144 THE MINIATURE FBXJIT GAEDEN 



senting almost the appearance of canker ; a slight 

 examination will, however, determine whether the 

 disease is deeper than the bark. Washing the parts 

 affected with a mixture of soot, lime, and sulphur will 

 remove the roughness and restore the tree to health ; 

 if the above materials are mixed with skim milk the 

 mixture is more enduring ; the disease often shows itself 

 after severe frost, and probably arises from a rupture of 

 the cells. 



A bright orange spot will often make its appearance 

 on the leaves. During the summer the leaves thus 

 affected must be at once removed and burnt ; if left on 

 the tree the spot will develop in several nipple-like 

 protuberances, which will burst and scatter spores for 

 future germination, and the whole tree, bark, and leaves 

 will be attacked, and ultimately destroyed. 



MiNUEES 



In heavy, cold, and wet soils horse manure should 

 be forked lightly into the ground in the autumn and 

 spring; when the soil is light and sandy, cow-dung 

 should be mixed with it. Kiln dust mixed with night 

 soil is an excellent surface-dressing, and soot should 

 be given liberally, particularly where a deficiency of 

 colouring is observed in the fruit. In all non-calcareous 

 soils, chalk, lime, gypsum, and phosphate of lime should 

 be freely used ; the absence of lime in soils is often the 

 cause of failure; all plants contain lime, and it must 

 therefore be supplied when non-existent. 



