190 
THE ELORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
proper season to lift the tree entirely and replant it at once. I find this 
infinitely preferable to cutting the roots entirely off at a certain radius from 
the stem, which is all very right and proper in the case of pyramids, and all 
hardier fruits, but is scarcely applicable to so tender a tree as the Peach, nor 
is it so likely to be attended with the desired success as a careful lifting and 
replanting is calculated to produce. This will conquer the most obstinate 
constitutions, and bring about a more healthy growth of fruitful wood, and in 
less time than can be attained by any severe mutilation of the roots. 
I have now touched upon most of the leading principles connected with 
the working and management of the roots and branches, and shall conclude 
my observations on Peach and Nectarine culture with a few remarks on some 
of the minor details, such as watering, protection, mildew, and insects. 
The application of water to the roots, more particularly during seasons of 
drought, is an absolute necessity, and must be included in any good system of 
management. The quantity necessary to be applied will have to be regulated 
by the amount of rain during the season. In times of drought three thorough 
good soakings will be sufficient; but when the rainfall is sufficient to keep the 
ground in a moist condition it will only be necessary to take care that the trees 
have an ample supply when the fruit commences to swell off after stoning. In 
order to ensure an equable distribution of the water, it is best to prick up 
the surface lightly, and then draw the earth in a basin-like form at a certain 
radius from the stem in proportion to the size of the tree, returning the earth 
in a dry state after the water has passed down to the roots ; a few handfuls 
of salt thrown in the water will always be beneficial. It is very important 
that the quality of the water should be looked to, because cold spring water, 
and even in some instances rain water from an underground tank, would be of 
too low a temperature, and therefore very injurious. The best is rain water 
which has been for some time exposed to the action of the sun, either in an 
open cistern or pond; and if there should be a slight admixture of manurial 
matter draining into such pond so much the better ; but care must be taken 
that the latter do not predominate. 
The question of protection is a vexed one ; but the fact that the Peach 
is liable to strart into growth very early and to bloom before the danger of 
frosts is over, would seem to point to the expediency of having some effectual 
means of shelter, to be applied under certain conditions of the atmosphere. 
When it is free from damp and drying winds prevail the blossom will bear a 
very low temperature without injury ; but when alternations of wet and drought 
prevail, accompanied with sharp morning frosts, then a moveable protection 
should be applied. I prefer curtains of stout canvas, sufficient to keep off rain 
as well as afford shelter from frosts. With proper care and a little mending 
such curtains will last for fifteen or twenty years. 
With regard to mildew, some varieties are much more liable to it than 
others. The Royal George, for instance, will take it sooner than any other 
sort; but all are more or less liable to it in certain seasons and conditions of 
the atmosphere. To keep it under I find the following mode effectual:—In 
the spring, previous to training-out the trees, I thoroughly paint the wall over 
with a thick composition, made up of about equal parts of clay, soot, lime, and 
flowers of sulphur. These should be thoroughly comminuted and mixed to¬ 
gether in as dry a state as possible, and then water added to bring the mixture 
to the consistence of very thick paint. The great error in the use of such 
compositions is making them too thin, when the real object is to plaster up with 
a thick coat all the eggs or insects, so that they may be smothered, as it were. 
After painting over the whole of the wall, working the composition well into 
the crevices and nail-holes, paint over all the branches, when dry nail them to 
