DISEASES, INSECTS, AND ENEMIES. 269 



Jife of the tree. It ia wonderfully common among peaches and necta- 

 rinea, and prevails to such an extent that It ia rare to find the scion and 

 stocks of the same size. This is a matter deserving the earnest attention 

 of nurserymen. The stocks and scion of the peach ought to be better 

 matched. The excessive growth of the scion may, and does, favour earlier 

 fertili^, and also probably more fruit ; but the disparity ultimately tells 

 against the health and duration of the tree. The gnarled lump formed 

 over the stocks is the favourite haunt of canker, and forms a capital mark 

 for sunstroke. As already stated in our chapter on propagation, different 

 plums are used for the peach, the most common being, perhaps, the Mussel 

 and white pear plum. Neither of these, as a rule, keep pace with the 

 peach. The St. Julieu and Myrobolan are also recommended. Double 

 worked plum stocks for peaches were also probably used before double 

 worked pears were thought of, and possibly the beat stock to keep pace 

 with the peach might be found either in the white Magnum Bonum or the 

 Mussel, worked with the Magnum Bonum, the peach to crown the double 

 worked stocks. The mode of protecting the bole of the stock recom- 

 mended in this chapter also facilitates its growth, and would bring it 

 into closer harmony with the size of the scion. Neither does there seem 

 any valid reason ifhy the stocks, especially of tall rider peaches, should 

 not be permitted to develop a few shoots on their own account. These 

 would clothe the stem, assist in developing more and stronger roots, and 

 possibly enable the stock to make sufScient progress to keep pace and 

 form a good match with the growth of the scion, and thus obviate most 

 of the deformities and other evils of the super-growths of the scions. 



Xl.—Thrip. 



This is generally the result of drought or of careless treatment. The 

 best remedy for it ia frequent syringings with strong tobaqco water. 

 This kills the thrip, and shotdd, as soon as it has effected its purpose, 

 be thoroughly washed off with frequent syringings with clean water. 

 Sewage of moderate strength, applied at a temperature of ISOdeg., is 

 also a good cure for thrip. But it should be taken in time, or it is 

 difScult to eradicate, as the thrip generally feed on the under side of the 



XII.—Red Spider. 



This ia far more common than thrip ; in fact, it is perhaps the 

 the worst insect that infests the peach. It punctures and almoet 



h2 



