August 24,1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
167 
24th 
Tn 
Reading Autumn Show. 
25th 
P 
26th 
S 
Sale of Dutch Bulbs at Mr. Stevens’s Rooms, Covent Garden. 
27 th 
SDN 
12th Sunday after Trinity. 
28th 
M 
29th 
TU 
30th 
W 
RENOVATING PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES— 
THE “YELLOWS.” 
ELL-ARRANGED and well-managed Peach 
houses are both a source of much pleasure 
and profit. The houses need not necessarily 
be expensive in construction, they make but 
little difference to the coke bill in a garden 
where other houses are being constantly heated; 
and, in addition, can be utilised for various other 
purposes. It is not my intention at present to 
discuss which is the best style of house for Peach cul¬ 
ture and most profitable method of arranging the trees> 
further than expressing the opinion that the houses should be 
constructed to admit of a double row of trees—one on the back 
wall and the other on a semicircular trellis in front, rather 
than train the trees to a trellis near the glass, somewhat after 
the manner of Vines. The former is the method adopted here, 
and which I should be sorry to see altered, especially as our 
back wall is 12 feet high. The position of our houses is also 
particularly favourable, and the range is 190 feet long, divided 
into three compartments, two being heated and one unheated. 
I found it furnished with well-formed trees, comprising several 
sorts worth growing, and not merely as many as could be 
crowded in ; there are a few, however, which are doomed. 
Unfortunately the trees were in an unsatisfactory condition, 
being afflicted in many instances with the “ yellows ”—that is 
to say, the points of the young growths were yellow instead of 
a dark healthy green colour. This may be thought a rather 
singular name for a complaint, but those who are acquainted 
with the symptoms know the crops obtained from such trees 
are of comparatively little value till these same “ yellows " are 
prevented. The trees when in this condition, unless too far gone, 
flower freely and set good crops of fruit, which appear to stone 
well, but the majority drop when apparently near perfection. 
If fruits drop before they are quite ripe they are not fit to eat, 
and when this dropping occurs there is of a certainty something 
radically wrong with the roots of the trees. It is true over¬ 
dryness or over-cropping may result somewhat similarly, but 
in the latter case especially, I think, we more often err in not 
cropping heavy enough, always supposing we have healthy 
vigorous trees. A fruit to every square foot of tree surface 
might do for older generations, but it will not satisfy either 
“ gardeners’ greed ’’ or employers'demands of the present time, 
and twice that quantity have to be grown of kinds which bear 
moderate-sized fruit. 
An over-cropped tree, and which, perhaps, has not had suffi¬ 
cient moisture supplied to it above and below ground, will, as 
a rule, be plentifully covered with insects, such as red spider 
and aphides. Now, I found trees afflicted with the “ yellows " 
were not infested with those pests, probably because of the 
absence of the food they prefer. This, however, was poor 
compensation, and drastic remedies had to be applied. It 
must be understood the “ yellows ” are caused by too deep root- 
action, this being the result of either an insufficient supply of 
moisture or poverty of surface soil, or both. If no means are 
taken to keep the roots of Peach, or indeed of any fruit trees, 
near the surface they will inevitably strike downwards in 
search of the necessary food, and this, it is almost needless to 
say, marks the commencement of the trees’ decay. The roots 
should be near the surface to such an extent as to render it 
impossible to lightly point up the soil without detaching bunches 
of them. In this position they derive much benefit from the 
warm atmosphere, the soakings of liquid manure, and any fer¬ 
tilising top-dressings that may be applied, all of which are 
wasted on borders containing deep fibreless roots. Last year 
at this time it was a difficult matter to find any roots, but 
suckers were remarkably abundant. This has been completely 
changed, and as a consequence valuable crops of fruit have 
been and are being secured. The remedy for trees in the con¬ 
dition described is simple, and consists of either partial or 
wholly lifting, and placing the roots near the surface in fresh 
soil. Good turf, nearly or quite fresh, a sprinkling of lime 
rubbish and wood ashes, form an excellent compost, using also 
a little decayed manure. 
We commenced operations early in September, and com¬ 
pleted the late house by the end of the month. In each in¬ 
stance the growth was ripened and the buds plumped, this being 
long before the leaves dropped. At this time the root-action 
is most brisk, and it follows if many of the roots are carefully 
lifted and placed in fresh soil numbers of rootlets form long 
before the foliage falls. By these means a good foundation is 
laid for an early start the following season. 
In the early house one tree was too far gone for renovation- 
This was removed, the soil being cleared away to a depth of 
about 2 feet, and a width each way of 6 feet. Fresh soil was 
introduced, and afterwards occupied with an overcrowded tree 
from the successional house. This transplanting was no easy 
matter, as the tree was disposed behind a double row of hot- 
water pipes in front of the house, and as it would have to be 
similarly placed in the fresh position not much earth could be 
moved with it. In moving we first cut a circular trench as far 
off the stems as we safely could without injuring the adjoining 
trees to a depth of about 30 inches, and then gradually forked 
away the soil from the roots, carefully preserving these till 
within 18 inches of the stem. The ball thus retained was then 
partially undermined and reduced to a manageable size, after 
which the tree was loosened and gradually brought down to the 
ground, while the earth and roots were drawn out from under 
the pipes. It was then worked through the doorway into the 
next compartment and replanted. Much of the foliage was 
unavoidably broken, but by carefully shading from bright sun¬ 
shine and frequently syringing at times during the day we suc¬ 
ceeded in preserving the majority of the healthy leaves. Prior 
to removal the tree was in a bad condition, but this season, 
although forced, it has improved wonderfully, and during June 
ripened five dozen excellent fruit, besides forming abundance 
®f medium-sized well-ripened growths, ranging from 18 to 
30 inches in length. The variety is the Early Grosse Mig- 
nonne, and the tree covers a space of about 12 feet by 8 feet. 
No. 113.—Yon. Y., Third Series. 
NO.1769.—You. LXVII!., OLD SERIES. 
