GLEANINGS ON IIOKTICULTUIIE. 



27 



proportion to that of the top, but if they are badly conditioned, 

 they can neither act their part, nor appropriate their share of 

 returning juices, consequently an accumulation of the latter 

 takes place in the stems, and favoured by the moist warm atmo- 

 sphere of the vinery, bursts through the bark in the form of 

 spongioles, continuing to lengthen till they are checked by 

 droughts. They assist in forming foliage during moist weather, 

 but dry up when they are most wanted, and cause the shanking 

 and shrivelling of the fruit. Their appearance may be prevented 

 by maintaining a due proportion between the temperature of the 

 air and earth in which the vines are planted. 



ON PRUNING AND THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF PEACH-TREES, 

 NECTARINES, APRICOTS, &C. 



About the first week in February, the buds of the peach-tree 

 will begin to exhibit considerable prominency. Before the trees 

 are fastened to the wall, I would therefore advise their being 

 washed over with the following mixture : — 1 lb. of soot, 1 lb. of 

 soap, J lb. flowers of sulphur, 4 lb. of fine chopped tobacco — put 

 the whole into a vessel of boiling water; add unslacked lime, and 

 a sufficient portion of lamp-black to give it a grey colouring, until 

 the mixture assumes the consistency of cream. Paint every por- 

 tion of the tree over with this mixture, using a painter's brush, 

 and taking care that the liquid is hot, and that it reaches every 

 crevice. If applied in fine weather, it will soon dry, so that a 

 second careful inspection had better take place, and any parts 

 omitted gone over with the brush. When this is completed, the 

 trees may be fastened to the wall, and trained in the usual 

 manner. Peach-trees require protection in the spring till the 

 fruit is set; this may be effected by waterproof calico, fastened 

 by means of loops to the hooks which support the projecting 

 galvanized coping; the canvass is kept from the wall by means 

 of hop-poles, placed in a slanting direction, the lower part of 

 the canvass being tied over the poles to small hooks fastened 

 opposite each lower string or loop in the wall. This covering 

 can easily be put up or taken down, to expose the trees in not too 

 sunny weather, and protect them as the evening approaches. 



Waterproof canvass, or calico, may be procured from Richard- 

 son and Co., Tonbridge-place, Euston-square, at Is. per yard, 

 which, if taken care of, will last for years, and be useful also to 

 wrap round pyramidal pear-trees when in blossom, and to pro- 



