By Mr. John Robertson. 



183 



The border should also, where that sacrifice can be made, 

 be left in possession of the Peach tree alone, and worked with 

 forks only, to avoid injuring the roots ; but as devoting so 

 valuable a portion of the garden as the south borders to no 

 other purpose, may not in many cases be expedient, it would 

 be adviseable to leave apertures at the bottom of the wall, 

 through which the roots of the Peach tree may penetrate to 

 the outside, and be there suffered to range unmolested. Brick 

 walls are preferable to those formed of any other materials, 

 as they are not only drier and possess a more equal tempera- 

 ture, but in consequence of their colour absorb and retain a 

 greater portion of heat than most others. 



Copings proportioned to the height of the wall, should 

 always be laid on its top, as they not only protect the bloom, 

 but keep the wall dry and warm, and so facilitate the ripen- 

 ing of the fruit and wood. Little or no manure should be 

 given to the Peach tree while vigorous, or until weakened by 

 age or bearing, and the object in pruning should not be to 

 produce strong luxuriant shoots, but such as may be kind and 

 fertile, which completing their growth early in the season, 

 will be well ripened. 



Such course of treatment steadily pursued, will rarely fail 

 to render the Peach tree healthy and productive. 



The Apricot, Plum, and Cherry, are also subject to Gum ; 

 to the first, it frequently proves destructive, but to the others 

 it is less injurious. The instructions which have been given 

 relative to its treatment in the Peach tree, will also equally 

 apply to it in these trees. 



Of the other diseases to which fruit trees are subject, the 

 most injurious is the Canker. In the Pear and Apple, pro- 



vol. v. Bb 



