177 



application of moisture after mueli drought. This 

 spHtting occurs before they begin to ripen, and, to 

 prevent it, it is necessary that the border should not 

 be allowed at any time to become too dry ; and further, 

 that too much foliage should not be taken off at once ; 

 neither should insects be allowed to injure that which 

 is left. If the trees are thus kept in health in dry 

 weather, the fruit will not be affected when wet sets 

 in. In watering, cold spring water must not be used. 

 {Gard. Chron. 1844, 200.) 



Splitting of the sto7ies often occurs in late peaches 

 when excessive rain penetrates to the roots of the 

 trees, and there becomes stagnant, after a previously 

 dry season : the stones of the fruit split, and the latter 

 drops in consequence. This will not be the case if 

 the borders have a sufficient supply of moisture 

 throughout the summer, and no superabundance when 

 the fruit is ripening off. {Ibid,) 



Wounds. — After the winter-pruning, stop every 

 wound made by the knife, and every place whence 

 proceeds gummy exudations, with a coat of thick 

 white paint ; this painting is repeated, and perhaps 

 a third time, on all the larger wounds. This is found 

 of eminent use, for it is a tolerably well-known fact, 

 that the entrance of air and moisture into such wounds 

 is in many cases the cause of premature decay. The 

 wounds being dressed in this manner, immediately 

 stove the house with sulphur, blended with sawdust, 



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