76 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ April, 
trees, a very long period may intervene before the soil becomes exhausted ; but 
this is the exception, not the rule. In general, it will be advisable to renew the 
soil at the end of from twelve to eighteen years. It does not pay to grow fruit 
of any kind under glass unless skilfully managed, and one of the most im¬ 
portant points is the border, which should always be kept in good order, 
otherwise success can only be partial, however well all the other conditions may 
be attended to. 
On a recent occasion I had to deal with a fine old Barrington Peach tree, 
which nearly occupied the roof of a good-sized house. For many years it set 
enormous quantities of fruit, which were always thinned so as to leave a large 
crop, but not beyond what the strength of the tree could thoroughly finish. For 
the last two years it has scarcely shown its former vigour, one side particularly 
being much less vigorous than the other. No gum or other unhealthy appearance 
is to be seen, on either the old or young wood ; indeed there is little difference 
to be observed from what it formerly was, with this exception that the last year’s 
growths are not so strong and are much less plump than they have usually been— 
a condition most noticeable on the weaker side of the tree. Last year many of 
the flowers dropped without setting on this weak side ; this year they are doing 
the same, being very sparse and weak. Some time ago, I was induced to examine 
the roots on the side of the tree where the vigour had so much decreased, and I 
found them in a dark-coloured loam, many of them decayed, and altogether in a 
bad state. I had them cut back to where they were fresh ; the exhausted soil 
was renewed, and replaced with fine turfy loam, and I have no doubt the weak 
side of the tree will soon recover. The roots on the other side are in a fine 
hazelly loam, which is now somewhat exhausted, and will require to be renewed 
in a year or two, after the roots on the other side are fully established in 
the fresh soil. It will be observed that in this case, the dark-coloured and 
inferior loam became first exhausted, telling unfavourably on the health of the 
whole tree, but particularly on the side where it w T as placed. Artificial 
manures were in this case applied, but they could no longer sustain the vigour 
of the tree. 
I give this illustration to show how much Peach and Nectarine trees grown 
under glass are dependent on the soil in which they are planted being healthy, as 
otherwise no skill will induce them to produce large crops of fine fruit; and no 
wonder, considering the weight of fruit that a full-sized tree will carry for years 
in succession, so long as the proper food under favourable conditions is placed 
within its reach. 
Inattention to properly ventilating Peacli-houses when the trees are in flower, 
as also wet dark cloudy weather, often prevents their setting freely, even when 
the flowers are fully matured. This can be remedied to a large extent by using 
as much fire-lieat daily as will dry the atmosphere of the house, and allow of a 
moderate amount of ventilation, sufficient to cause a free circulation of air around 
the trees. 
