GLEANINGS ON UORTICULTUUE. 



33 



Hno-ers, but gently lift it upwards; and if ripe, it will easily be 

 detached, and vice versa. Almost all diseases originate in the 

 soil being too rich, too deep, or too moist ; such as mildew, the 

 gum, and the canker. The first is a fungus, and is often brought 

 on by a change in the condition of the atmosphere ; but by 

 giving attention to the borders, and protecting the tree by a 

 coping of at least six inches, to keep off violent rains, it might 

 be prevented, as well as the two l?tter. In favourable seasons, 

 the blossoms often set more fruit than they can support, or 

 have room to attain full growth ; and if all were to remain, 

 it would hurt the trees in their future bearing ; therefore, they 

 should be timely thinned, when of the size of peas or half- 

 grown gooseberries. There should be a preparatory thinning 

 before the time of stoning, and a final one afterwards ; because 

 most plants, especially such as have overborne themselves, drop 

 many fruit at that crisis. Finish the thinning with great regu- 

 larity, leaving those retained at proper distances; three, four, or 

 even five on strong shoots, two or three on middling, and one or 

 two on the weaker shoots ; and never leaving more than one 

 peach, nectarine, or apricot at the same eye, for the spur system 

 is seldom now adopted even with the latter. The fruit on weakly 

 trees, thin more in proportion. 



To renovate old and decayed trees, head them down, and 

 renew the soil from an old upland pasture ; and if the bottom of 

 the border is moist, or if the roots have gone more than two feet 

 or two feet and a half downwards, pave the bottom, or otherwise 

 render it dry and impervious to roots at the depth of twenty 

 inches or two feet from the surface. This plan will be found 

 almost universally successful in restoring sufficient vigour to resist 

 insects and diseases, and produce abundance of fruit. After a 

 frosty night, if there is any appearance of the bloom of young 

 fruit having been affected, water them with cold water from the 

 garden engine, if they are even discoloui'ed. This operation 

 recovers them, provided it be done before the sun comes upon 

 them. Whenever that part of the bearing branch which extends 

 beyond the fruit is without foliage, the fruit itself rarely acquires 

 maturity, and never its proper flavour or excellence. This 

 is owing to the want of returning sap, which would have been 

 furnished by the leaves, and has been proved experimentally by 

 in-arching a small branch immediately above the fruit ; for it 

 immediately acquired in consequence the highest degree of 

 maturity and perfection. 



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