58G ' THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Jan. 



Towards the extremities of the trees, provided that they 

 have not yet filled their respective places upon the wall or 

 ti-ellis, most of the shoots, particularly the strongest, should 

 be shortened, in order to cause them to push out shoots to fill 

 the space, as they proceed. If this be not attended to, the 

 shoots will extend themselves to a gi-eat length, and become 

 naked and useless. All parts of the trees that appear too 

 crowded with shoots, should be regularly thinned out, and the 

 whole tree as it were balanced, or regularly supplied, with 

 young wood from bottom to top, which, from the nature of 

 the tree, will readily be accomplished, if sufficient attention 

 be paid to a judicious mode of pruning. 



The pruning being finished, let the whole of the trees and 

 trellises be washed or anointed with the mixture, as directed 

 for vines, and this should be done carefiilly, for fear of de- 

 stroying the buds, which will now be much swollen. Lay the 

 young shoots flat in one hand, while with the other gently 

 draw a piece of sponge, dipped in the liquor, upwards (but 

 7wt downwards), or the reverse way of the buds, two or three 

 times, so that all filth may be washed off, and a good portion 

 of the composition made to remain on the trees. The older 

 shoots should be well scrubbed, upwards and downwards, to 

 remove all filth, and the rubbing continued until the bark of 

 the tree is well charged with the composition; indeed, the 

 larger branches should be frequently anointed, before the 

 blossom begins to expand, to soften their outward bark, and 

 leave a greasy appearance upon them. Tincture of Digitalis, 

 diluted in water, in the proportion of one ounce of the former 

 to three pints of the latter, has been recommended for the 

 destruction of the green-fly upon peach-trees; the application 

 is made by sprinkling the liquid on the leaves or branches in- 

 fested ; and in many cases this is more conveniently applied than 

 fumigation with tobacco-smoke. If the trees have any appear- 

 ance of mildew, it should be now carefully attended to. The 

 points of the shoots should be examined, where the mildew is 

 only at this season likely to be discovered, and if it cm be 

 done without injuring the form of the tree, or removing shoots 

 that can ill be spared, the infected shoots should be removed 



