174 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ August, 
SANABLE MEASURES FOR WALL TREES. 
HE sorry estate of Peaches and Nectarines on the open walls this season 
calls for all our skill. The trees are crippled, in many cases well nigh 
f killed ; and the season is late. What is done to restore, cure, stimulate, 
had need be done quickly, if at all. In all very bad cases surgical opera¬ 
tions must precede any other remedial measures. The dead and the certainly 
dying parts must be taken away from the living, for this will prevent a needless 
waste of any vital force that may remain by useless diffusion and misapplication. 
By narrowing the area of the tree, we concentrate its growing force, and thus 
virtually add to its energy. Instead of a sluggish action, a languid circulation, 
over a large surface, we may thus secure a quick, vigorous growth over a smaller 
area ; and the calling forth of this vigour is almost the only chance the trees 
have for recovery. Once get any part of a crippled tree to grow freely, and 
there is hope of the whole. That strong shoot will awaken the torpor of 
the injured or hitherto idle roots, and when these are called into healthy action, 
half the work is done. A rush of sap along bare boughs even will push forth 
adventitious buds from the hard bark and dry-looking branches. But these 
may be nurtured and quickened by special treatment. Growth must not only be 
made, but ripened before winter. The time for this is short ; August is already 
upon us, and we have not an hour to lose. 
There are two general modes of helping the growth of disabled trees. One 
works indirectly through the roots, the other directly upon the top. The 
indirect is by far the most potent, and consists chiefly in mulching and renewing 
the surface-soil, and watering with stimulating liquids. Perhaps mulching— 
covering the root-surface with sweet, half-decomposed manure, or a simple non¬ 
conductor, such as cocoa-nut fibre refuse—are among the most powerful aids to 
growth. It seems somewhat difficult to explain the full and complete cause of 
the fostering influence of mulchings. But the testimony of experience is universal 
in their favour; while for the quickening of semi-dormant, or the strengthening 
of weak roots, mulchings are invaluable. Of course, manurial coverings not only 
maintain a uniform temperature, and keep the root-runs uniformly moist, but 
they likewise feed the roots. Those mulchings, however, that are too poor to 
feed are almost equally effective. 
Again, fresh soil applied to the roots is a powerful aid to growth. The 
whole of the old exhausted earth may be picked out, and fresh sweet loam applied 
in its place. The roots speedily lay hold of this, and' the result is seen in new 
shoots and leaves of superior health and vigour, overgrowing, as it were, the frost 
stunts, and restoring the trees to their pristine vigour. Manure-water is also a 
powerful stimulant to strong and rapid growth. If the borders are well drained, 
there is little danger of applying it in excess during the growing season. The 
safe rule in regard to all stimulating liquids such as sewage, artificial or natural, 
