182 On the Diseases of Fruit Trees. 



except that of wounds, topical applications fail in producing 

 any permanent good effect ; but where they are resorted to, 

 the edges of the wound should be pared to the quick, all the 

 carious parts cleaned out, and the whole covered with some 

 durable composition, which will adhere and effectually exclude 

 the air and moisture, in which, I believe, consists all the efficacy 

 that any application can possess. One of the best, and most 

 readily provided, is a mixture of tar and powdered charcoal, 

 sufficiently fluid to be laid on with ease : perhaps as charcoal 

 has been found a powerful antiseptic, it may have some effect 

 in counteracting a tendency to putrefaction in the wound. 



When trees which have been previously in a sound state, 

 first shew symptoms of Gum, in consequence of having been 

 planted in an unsuitable soil, they should be taken up as soon 

 as possible, and better mould substituted, by which, clearing 

 out the diseased shoots, and forming the future growth of the 

 tree on those that are sound, the disorder may be checked, 

 and the existence of the tree prolonged. 



But as all attempts to remove this disease, when it has 

 once taken head, are likely to prove ineffectual, no precau- 

 tion should be omitted to prevent its occurrence ; the Peach 

 borders should be carefully prepared, by forming them of a 

 sweet fresh soil ; where the ground is not naturally such, the 

 best possible is the upper spit of an old upland pasture. 

 The bottom should be drained, where requisite, to free it 

 from stagnant moisture, and rendered impervious to the roots, 

 should the subsoil be wet. Where these or similar precau- 

 tions cannot be taken, replanting the trees occasionally, in 

 order to keep the roots on the surface, has been found pro- 

 ductive of the best effect. 



