THE PEACH. 285 



.Its infallible indications, are, first, a premature ripening 

 of the fruit, some weeks earlier than usual — accompanied 

 with a rather insipid flavor, and with purple discolora- 

 tions of the flesh. These usually occur the first season, and 

 on a part of the tree which has heen first inoculated with 

 the poison. The following season, numerous small, wiry 

 shoots are frequently thrown up from the larger branches, 

 the leaves become yellow, the whole tree assumes a sickly 

 appearance, and eventually perishes. No case is known 

 where a decidedly developed case of this disease has ever 

 been cured. When once attacked, to prevent a spread of 

 the disease, the tree should be immediately removed and 

 burned. No young trees should be planted on the same 

 spot, as the diseased roots still remain. Stones for seed- 

 lings should be procured from districts of the country where 

 it has not been introduced. 



Peach trees, presenting a sickly appearance, have been 

 revived by the application of iron to the roots, in the form 

 of filings or turnings, or in the solution of the sulphate of 

 iron or copperas ; but these instances of decline do not ap- 

 pear to have been the contagious malady known as the yel- 

 lows. 



A. J. Downing, whoso opinion is worthy of much atten- 

 tion, and who believes that the yellows is induced by ex- 

 haustion and neglected pruning, strongly relies on the effi- 

 cacy of shortening-in, as a means of prevention, in connex- 

 ion with the means already pointed out, and a thorough 

 renovation of the soil by alkaline applications. 



Mildew. The growth of peach trees is often retarded by 

 mildew. It seizes the tender points of the shoots and young 

 leaves, and sometimes wholly stops their growth. It is con- 

 fined to glandless, cut-leaved varieties only ; such as the 

 Early White Nutmeg, the Early Anne, and some of the 

 earliest varieties of the red rareripe. Yellow-fleshed peaches 

 rarely or never suffer from it. It is not often a formidable 

 evil, although it seriously lessens the thrifty and handsome 

 appearance of some varieties while growing in the nursery. 



It is a minute fungus, and may be destroyed or lessened 

 without injury to the tree, by syringing with soap-suds on its 

 first appearance. A mixture of lime-water with the soap- 

 suds is preferred by some cultivators, and a subsequent dust- 

 ing with sulphur has been recommended. 



