ted that they too often decay with almost the same celerity. A question here will naturally arise on this subject. What can be done to remedy this?

"I think the Peach stock is defective, and is not sufficiently strong and lasting to make a permanent tree. The roots are soft and delicate, very liable to rot in cold heavy ground, particularly if suffered to stand in a sod, or where the ground is not kept clean, dry, and manured every season. Secondly. Supposing that the trees are planted in a warm free soil (which is the proper soil for the Peach) they are liable to the attacks of the worm, which eats into their roots, and barks the trees all around, until the trees are completely destroyed. No better method of destroying these worms has been discovered than simply digging round the trees, and examining the infested plants, and where gum is seen oozing out, there the worm may be generally found and destroyed.

"I think an effectual remedy against this intruder may be found, by budding Peaches and Nectarines on the common bitter ALMOND STOCK. The worm does not like this stock. Peach scions will take on it, and grow about as freely as on the common Peach-stock. Thirdly. The Peach-stock causes the Peaches and Nectarines to grow too rapidly, making strong shoots, these producing secondary or lateral shoots; and the fruit of the following summer is produced on the top of these lateral shoots, instead of being produced on the principal or first shoots. This causes naked wood at the bottom; and a straggling, unsightly tree, whose branches being heavy at the top with the fruit, are broken down by high winds."

The illustrations of peach-trees represent the right way and the wrong way of pruning peach-trees. If the branches be not shortened in every year, the limbs will become long and bare, except at the ends; and the fruit will be very inferior. On the contrary, if the ends of the limbs be clipped off the inside of the top will be filled with bearing-branches of excellent

fruit. Beginners should aim to have the tops of their peachtrees well filled up with bearing branches. By pruning a little

Peach-Tree badly Pruned.

A Peach-Tree well Pruned.

every year, there will be no difficulty in doing it in a most satisfactory manner.

THE YELLOWS.

For several years past Peach-trees have been subject to what has been deemed a disease called the yellows, from the circumstance of the trees having a yellow and sickly appearance. Much curious philosophy has been spent on this subject with

out arriving at any satisfactory conclusion. As a remedy for the yellows Mr. Floy recommends budding the Peach on Plumstocks. He writes:-"The Plum-stock is undoubtedly the best for Peaches and Nectarines in the Northern and Eastern States; but especially for open dwarfs or espaliers, for which I give the following reasons:-First. The Plum-stock prevents the too rapid growth of the shoots, and causes the principals to bear the fruit the following season, instead of producing lateral shoots the same season, and causing the tree to be more dwarf. The branches are strong and fruitful to the bottom of the shoot, thereby having more fruit in a smaller compass. Secondly. It makes harder and less pithy wood, and enables it the better to withstand the cold; and this may be easily proved by cutting the branches of each. The shoot on the Plum-stock will be twice as hard and firm as the one on the Peach-stock. But, Thirdly, and the most important reason is, that the Plum ceases to send up its sap early in autumn, causing the Peach to perfect its wood before the cold weather sets in."

It is also evident that a tree deprived of its functions or means of growing luxuriantly, is in a similar situation to a diseased animal. If disease be not checked before the juices of the tree become putrid, it will not only die, but will contaminate the earth in which it is planted, to the destruction of its neighboring inmates of the garden or field. All experienced nursery-men admit this to be the case with diseased Peachtrees, and some have actually abandoned their Peach-orchards, and chosen fresh ground for new plantations.

It is precisely the same with smaller vegetable plants. A diseased Cabbage, for instance, by its excremental and corrupt juices being spent in the ground, will render the cultivation of the same or allied species a casualty; and daily observation teacheth, that young and thrifty plants often fall a prey to worms and reptiles which were generated by a previous crop.

Deep planting and injudicious culture are the causes of most of the diseases and failures of fruit-trees; and in

this way I account for Peaches being less plentiful than they were when left almost to nature; which was the case, I am informed, in the beginning of the present century. That this malpractice in horticulture is general, the most superficial observer may discover by comparing the thrifty growth of those trees scattered by nature in our highways and byways with many of those aided by the art of man. If any of my readers should require proof of my assertions, I can show them from the window of the room where this article is being written, scores of living, or rather dying evidences of the evil of deep planting.

PRUNING. AND TRANSPLANTING.

All the varieties of the Peach produce their fruit upon the young wood of a year old, the blossom-buds rising immediately from the eyes of the shoots. The same shoots seldom bear after the first year, except on some casual small spurs on the two years' wood, which is not to be counted upon. Hence the trees are to be pruned as bearing entirely on the shoots of the preceding year, and a full supply of regular grown shoots must be retained for successional bearers. Cut out the redundant shoots, and all decayed and dead wood, and reduce some of the former bearers, cutting the most naked quite away.

A Peach Orchard may be planted at any time after the bud is established, until the trees are three or four years old, which may be placed from fifteen to twenty feet from each other, or from any other spreading trees. The dwarf kinds may be introduced into the kitchen-garden, and trained against fences, as directed for the Apricot, or as espaliers or dwarf standards.

A judicious pruning of Peach, Nectarine, and other kinds of young trees is necessary to prevent the long, straggling growth of limbs which are frequently bare of shoots for some distance from the body of the tree, which should be shortened, to cause the production of lateral shoots. An annual sum

mer pruning is essential to the well-being of a tree, as by shortening the wood of the preceding year's growth, a symmetrical tree containing a good supply of bearing-wood may be formed. By this treatment the longevity of a tree will be promoted, provided the work is done with judgment and care, so as not to render the tree impervious to the influence of the sun and air; for, be it remembered, the head of a tree must always be kept moderately open, for the purpose of giving the fruit the best possible chance of ripening perfectly.

Divest young budded and grafted trees of all shoots from the stocks, below the bud or graft, as they appear; also rub off all useless buds in early-shooting wall trees.

DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF PEACHES.

FREESTONE PEACHES.

ASTOR. An excellent variety, originating in the city of New York; the fruit is above medium size; skin pale yellow, with red cheek; flesh melting and pleasant flavored; juice sweet and plentiful; ripe the latter end of August and early in September.

BEERS'S RED RARERIPE, Middletown Late Red Rareripe. Fruit very large, of oblong shape; skin nearly white, with a red cheek; flesh firm, juicy, and high flavored. This variety originated with Joseph Beers of Middletown, New Jersey; it ripens there from the middle to the end of September, and is represented as a good market fruit.

BELLE DE VITRY, Admirable Tardive, Bellis, Beauty of Vitry A large fruit, of fine red color next the sun; on the opposite side a yellowish white; flesh white, stained with red at the stone; firm, juicy, sweet, vinous, aud excellent; ripe early in September.

BELLEGARDE, Galande, Violette Hative, Noire de Montreuil. Smooth-Leaved Royal George of some. The tree is vigorous