GROUP I. SOUTHERN COUNTIES SURREY. 



45 



Observations. — Examples generally of good size, very pale in 

 colour. Ducliesse d'Angouleme and Easter Beurre, from walls, 

 were specially fine, also Pitmaston Duchess and Matthew's 

 Elisa. 



Exhibitor's Remarks. — Situation, sheltered ; south-west aspect. 

 Soil, artificial ; subsoil, chalk, which is very detrimental to the 

 roots, so that they often require lifting — I generally make it a 

 triennial practice of doing so. This I have found to be judicious, 

 as it checks the too rapid How of the sap, and this enables the 

 tree to ripen its wood and also seems to arrest canker ; in regard 

 to this, however, I question if an insect is not in the secret. About 

 midwinter last year I made an inspection of an infected part with 

 the aid of a microscope, and under the bark I discovered several 

 formidable insects, something in shape of the woodlouse, but much 

 smaller, with stripes running horizontally across the body. Do 

 you think these insects had anything to do with the injury caused 

 to the tree, as this year I have watched the affected parts in 

 which they had taken up their winter quarters last year, and 

 after carefully cuttiug and removing the bark in which they were 

 concealed, and applying a little paraffin in a diluted form, I have 

 the satisfaction to say that not only the insects have disappeared 

 but the wound is healing, and no trace of canker this year up to 

 the present has shown itself ? Would this be worthy of the 

 notice of your Committee ? 



Our orchard trees here are planted in a slovenly manner 

 in order to save expense. In the first place, no preparation was 

 made for the roots ; these were spread out upon the bare turf, the 

 chalk underlying this, and then merely adding occasionally what 

 soil they seemed to require ; and still the young trees are doing 

 well under this treatment, and very free from canker, so that, 

 whether it be a wet soil or an insect which is the cause of canker, I 

 should like to be enlightened upon it ; if proved to be the latter, 

 it w^ould save a deal of labour. 



The old trees here are grafted on the Free stock. On this 

 stock trees grow stronger, but the roots soon get down to the chalk, 

 and the trees become unhealthy, showing a yellow tint during 

 summer. Of course these trees could not easily be root-pruned^ 

 as it would take a long time for them to recover. I am gradually 

 replacing them with young trees. The soil here is the worst 

 I ever had to contend with for fruit growing, as not only the 

 Pear, but even the Currant and Gooseberry bushes, show the 



