270 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 25, 1890. 
It is very important to keep the trees healthy year after year 
by taking reasonable crops of fruit and wood. The shoots should 
be well ripened by November. If a spell of dry weather occurs in 
May, or June, or July, water should he applied at the roots, par¬ 
ticularly at the foot of wall, where many useful roots will be found. 
A few cans of water might be applied there three times a week 
while the dry weather lasts. I need scarcely say that the water 
should have been exposed to the sun before being used if possible, 
and should a long spell of hot weather come a thorough soaking must 
be given over decayed farmyard manure as a mulch that will help to 
keep down red spider very much. A space of 3 feet from the wall 
should be kept firm, not dug at any time, only pricked over and 
kept free from weeds. I like a little short manure or leaf mould 
always upon this 3 feet space winter and summer. One more 
important point is when the leaves begin falling, say early in 
October, I have all the leaves cleared off and taken away : this 
exposes the wood for hardening and has more chances of being 
ripened. 
The failures in the cultivation of the Peach and Nectarine of 
recent years are probably due to the fact that the same care and 
attention are not bestowed upon the trees upon open walls, as was 
the case many years ago. Cheap glass has done much to increase 
the early crops of Peaches, but very few establishments can keep 
up a daily supply of Peaches from the middle of July until 
October, as we do, not even with the help of glass houses. A 
Peach tree with eighteen dozen finely coloured fruits, and every 
fruit of even size, is a sight long to be remembered ; this we have 
had every year for the last twelve years at Kenward, and during 
these twelve years there have been many bad seasons for the 
cultivation of the Peach on open walls. If strict attention is paid 
to the cultivation the Peach can be as well grown in many places 
in the south of England as ever it could. This I have proved ; 
but practice and science must ever go hand in hand to insure the 
best results. 
Insects. 
The green and black aphides are often very troublesome in the 
spring months upon the young shoots of the Peach trees, and unless 
means are taken to destroy them, these insects will soon injure the 
growth of the shoots, and if neglected for a very short time will 
destroy the young shoots. At this stage many cultivators fail 
with the Peach tree, for if the spring shoots are lost, as very often 
they are, the cultivator has to wait for the midsummer shoots, 
which never ripen sufficiently to mature flower buds for the 
following year. I dwell on this subject, knowing so well that 
many cultivators fail with the spring shoots. Our Peach tree 
growth for the season is complete by midsummer, or nearly so ; 
the consequence is, there is length of season to ripen the wood. 
I am fully convinced that many failures occur from neglect of 
taking strong measures during the spring months. Curl of the 
leaves of the young shoots in the spring is often injurious to 
the growth, but must be removed daily — that is, pinched off 
and taken away and burnt Very often an enlargement of the 
young shoot or shoots will occur from this disease, known as 
“ curl.” It is often caused from unripened wood, and sometimes 
from the ungenial spring weather, and troublesome, more noticeable 
in some varieties than others. For instance, we have it more in 
the variety Dr. Hogg than any other with us ; but I am in hopes, 
as the tree becomes older and the wood more ripened, to be rid 
of it altogether. I clear away all shoots affected with blisters if 
possible in July, when we make the final selection for laying in the 
following season’s wood. 
For destroying the green and black fly we use tobacco powder 
only, as I strongly object to any liquid at this season for the 
Peach tree. In fact, I never use any liquid insecticide for the 
Peach or Nectarine because of the stains these leave on the fruit, 
and particularly the Peach, which is of a woolly nature in a young 
state. I caution young cultivators against using liquids in any 
form if there is any fruit w T orth considering, either of the Peach or 
Nectarine. 
Red spider is very destructive to the foliage, and if not checked 
early will soon cause the leaves to fall, and consequently the trees 
will collapse altogether if the pest is allowed head-way. Syringe 
with clear soft water every afternoon for a time. 
Woodlice are very troublesome. They can be trapped and 
destroyed. Again, earwigs are most troublesome. I find bean 
stalks, cut into lengths about 9 inches, placed in and about the 
branches, and blown through every morning into boiling water, 
will soon get rid of many of these. I find them more troublesome 
to the Nectarine than to the Peach, but they are a pest to the fruit 
of the Peach when ripening, spoiling the face of the fruit if not 
caught. Often in looking round the trees with a lantern after 
dark I find the earwig busy eating away the face of Peaches and 
Nectarines, and the best fruit will be spoilt by them if not caught 
and destroyed early in the season. 
The worst enemy is, I think, the wasp. These noxious insects 
are very destructive to the Peach, and also to the Nectarine, when 
ripening. This season we have destroyed 233 queen wasps, and 
taken 97 wasps’ nests up to date—within flying distance of the 
fruit gardens, many of them in the park meadows and hedgerows 
of the estate. We wage war against them with a determined spirit, 
but still they come. Let me give cultivators of the Peach and 
Nectarine on open walls one more piece of advice ; that is, to find 
out one good cultivator, and visit him during the spring and summer 
months. I am convinced that much good is done by cultivators 
visiting each other during the different seasons of the year. If a 
cultivator in any district can grow the Peach and Nectarine 
successfully for twelve successive years on open walls, others should 
be able to do so, remembering that constant attention during the 
spring and summer months is required. 
Events of the Week. —A meeting of the General Committee of 
the National Chrysanthemum Society will be held in Anderton’s Hotel, 
Fleet Street, on Monday next, September 29th, at 7 p.m. Business of 
a very important nature will have to be transacted, and a full attend¬ 
ance of members is desired. At King Street, Covent Garden, and 
Cheapside the usual sales will be held during the week. 
-The Weather around London still continues favourable for 
the time of year. More rain has fallen however, and on Tuesday a 
rather severe thunderstorm was experienced, accompanied by heavy 
rain, in the afternoon. The temperature has been high, and the sunny 
weather is having a good ripening effect on fruit trees. 
- The funeral of the late Mr. William Holmes (whose death 
is recorded in another page) took place on Wednesday last at the Abney 
Park Cemetery at 3 p.m. There was an extremely large attendance of 
friends from Hackney, and the National Chrysanthemum Society -was 
well represented by members desirous of paying the last tribute of 
respect to their able officer. Many handsome floral wreaths were con¬ 
tributed privately, and on behalf of the various societies with which 
Mr. Holmes was connected. At the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Floral Committee on Tuesday it was unanimously resolved 
that a message of sympathy and condolence be sent to Mrs. Holmes, 
in which the members expressed how deeply they regretted the loss of 
their late associate. 
- Report of the Edinburgh Plum Congress.—W e have 
received a copy of the report of the Plum Congress that was held in 
Edinburgh in September, 1889. It is a closely printed, admirably com¬ 
piled, and well edited work of 164 pages, and reflects at once the 
practical and literary ability of Mr. M. Dunn. Selections are given by 
cultivators of the best Plums for different purposes and districts in 
Scotland, England, and Ireland, and valuable information is scattered 
throughout the work. We shall probably refer to it again, and in the 
meantime ask Mr. Dunn and his coadjutors to accept our best con¬ 
gratulations. The report is published by Messrs. Neill & Company, 
Edinburgh. 
- Maltese Apples.—I send you a sample of one of the four 
varieties of Apples grown in Gozo and Malta. They are cultivated 
principally in Gozo, and entirely for home consumption, being never 
exported. Iam informed that although four kinds are recognised they 
are probably reducible to two only. The Apple is called Toffich in 
Maltese, and the four sorts are—1, Toffich abiat, having a small 
yellowish fruit of fair flavour ; 2, Toffich ta Gian Mattia, yellowish 
streaked with red, of a rich aromatic flavour, the pulp being spongy ; 8, 
Toffich ta Billudia, greenish with red stripes or blotches—it is seldom 
eaten raw, and is the variety sent ; 4, Toffich ta regina, the Gozo Apple. 
This is a small very hardy tree, producing large fruits, yellowish green 
splashed with red. The flesh is greenish white, fine grained, mildly sub¬ 
acid and aromatic. The season for Apples is from September to 
November, and the price from Id. to 24d. per pound. — George 
Henslow. [The Apples are too deficient in sweetness and aroma to be 
of value for dessert, and they are also wanting in the acidity essential to 
culinary Apples.] 
