February 14, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
181 
it convenient sometimes to beat it into a lather, and apply the lather 
to the plants, as being more effectual than dipping ; and I may here 
say this is an excellent way to dispose of green fly on Hoses out of 
doors, for this lather is certain death to them if used on the shoots 
where they are clustered together. I find one or two applications in 
the season quite enough to keep Roses moderately free from aphides. 
I ought to mention the necessity for securing constant moisture 
about the roots of Ferns planted out of doors. A good supply of 
leaf soil or peat should form a part of the composition in which out¬ 
door Ferns are to grow, so as to secure them against drought in 
summer time ; and the addition of stones on 
the surface of the ground is most valuable, as 
they become great protectors from wind and 
sun, and are splendid conservers of moisture 
in the earth. I once read in one of the 
gardening periodicals a remark to this effect, 
that many gardeners sin against themselves in 
raking all the stones out of the ground they 
cultivate. I am fully persuaded of the truth 
of that remark, for I have been astonished to 
see the health and strength of vegetation on 
land which seemed to be half stones, and on 
hillsides where broken rock was more plentiful 
than earth. I am satisfied that such rocks and 
stones secure two essential objects—viz., pro¬ 
tection from the drying influence of sun and 
wind, and sufficient looseness of material to 
allow the air to get well about the roots of 
trees, shrubs, and Ferns, or whatever grows m 
such material. 
My trees are growing in a very unsuitable soil for fruit trees. 
Judging from the condition in which it is now I should say that 
originally it was taken off the common, where there is abundance 
of tempting turf full of fibre, but that is all, and when that 
decays it becomes totally unfit for fruit trees. It does very well 
for bedding plants or anything else that has not to remain long 
in it. 1 have seen fair crops of Cucumbers grown in it with the 
aid of liquid and other manures. It is to this soil that I now 
attribute the casting of the buds, and as soon as the young 
trees, planted last autumn, commence bearing fruit, 1 shall 
Fig. 2 G.—Davallia hemiptera. 
endeavour to remove the evil. It is possible that the shade 
caused by the Vines may have prevented the thorough matu¬ 
ration of the young wood, as no blooms have fallen off the 
natural spurs formed on the old wood; but I think that would 
not account for all the evil, because not a hundred yards from 
where I write there is a span-roofed house with Vines on the 
roof and Peach trees in the centre under the Vines, and no buds 
fall there, but neither Vines nor Peaches make very vigorous 
growth. I shall be glad if this raises a discussion upon this 
important matter, as it deserves some consideration in the 
Journal, and if any light is thrown upon it, I, at least, shall 
have one more cause for gratitude to the paper I have admired 
for many years.—T. A. B. 
In reply to “ L. T.” the Peach trees outside are not affected 
the same as those inside, and I may also mention that they were 
watered from a different source—viz., a sewage tank #lose at 
hand.— Alpha. 
PEACH TREES CASTING 
THEIR BUDS. 
I believe that more uncertainty exists 
on this question than upon any other con¬ 
nected with Peach-growing. I do not think 
that spring water will cause the buds of 
Peach trees to fall unless it contains some 
ingredient hurtful to vegetation generally. 
I am troubled each year by Peach buds 
falling, and think I know the cause, and in 
time hope to remove it. It may do good, 
therefore, to indicate the conditions under 
which it exists here. 
Our Peach trees occupy the north side 
of a half-span house which till last autumn 
was planted with Vines on the south side. 
The Vines have now been removed, and the 
south side is occupied with a curved trellis 
planted with one-year-trained Peach trees. 
The trees on the north side have been 
planted perhaps fourteen years. I have 
had charge of them six years, and every 
year they have cast a considerable part of 
their buds; sufficient, however, always re¬ 
maining on the trees to afford a crop of 
fruit, which ripens to perfection. When 
the Vines were in the house the Grape 
could not be cut till after Christmas, and 
consequently in our moist climate fire heat 
with a little air was necessary for the pre¬ 
servation of the Grapes, and to this firing 
after the Peach trees had cast their leaves 
I attributed the dropping of the buds, till 
this year, when I find I have been wrong, as part of the buds 
have dropped and a few are still dropping, while next to no fire 
heat has been used. Only on one or two occasions have we had 
to make the pipes more than lukewarm to keep out frost and 
damp from bedding plants and other softwooded plants kept in 
the house. 
I have asked many experienced men at one time and another 
how they account for the dropping of the buds, and in most 
cases the answer has been that the border has been too dry in 
winter; but that is not the case here, as the border has always 
been moist at a depth of 18 inches when it has been examined, 
and I make a point of keeping Vines and Peaches well supplied 
with water at all seasons. Gishurst compound is used as a 
winter dressing, but not of sufficient strength to do harm, and 
I do not think that even a much stronger solution would prove 
injurious to healthy trees. A neighbour of mine who grows 
Peaches well says that he has frequently used it at the rate 
of 8 *zs. to the gallon of water. 
