American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-07-11
PEACH TREES.

The Peacn may Oe TaDkeO Win tne most ueil-
cious fruit that can be produced in any country II
is generally raised from the stone, but the best kind
are those propagated by innoculation or grating.
The peach trea is subject TO many calamties,
and is in general short lived; lis preservation, 10
any considerable age, is only to be insured by skill
and atenIion-its precious fruit, is therefore for.
hidden to The slothiu the negligent and the igno-
rant
The peach tree is liable to three misrortunes or
calamities-6rs the hy--second, the breaking Of
limbs, which brings on a decay--third, to wounds
received on the body by bursting Of the bark by
severe frosts in winter, and tie injuries done to it
by birds insects, SC.
But The most general decay OF peach trees. is
owing to a worm which originates from large hy,
that resembles common wasp. This fly perfo-
rates the bark, and tteposes an egg in the moist or
sappy part of it, The most common place of per-
foralion is at the surface OF the earth, where the
rougher and harder bark which is exposed to almos
pherical influence begins TO change to the softer
character of that which covers the roots. In this
particular part the fly is able 10 puncture the sur
lace, and there introduce its eggs. This they per.
form in our climate from the middle of July through
August and September. In August for the most
part, the worms assume the crystals stale, and in
eight or ten days are transformed into flies. Then
they Immediately begin to 5eposite their eggs
which are soon Matched into worms, and thus the
is completed The eggs deposited by the fly at the
times and manner Just stated are changed into
worms and It IS in the worm state they do the
mischief, by preying upon the soft inner bark Of
the tree, which is the medium Of circulation fur|
the sap, thus interrupting the flow of the sap-the
immediate consequence OF which is, the destruc-
lion Of the fruit, and finally the destruction Of the
Tree. Gum issuing out Of a peach tree at or near
the surface Of the ground is sure sign that there
are worms under the bark.
Various means have been resored to, and with
various success, Tor the purpose Of destroying those
worms, or of preventing them from doing injury
10 the trees. These various methods shall now be
given as practised by some of the most respectable
and distinguished farmers Of our country.
Dr. Titton Of the State Of Delaware
shall say but little the cultivation Of this use
'ul tree bui will barely remark, that it should al.
ways be planted shallow, with the soil raised about
II IN the form of hill ; that Forsythe's method of
heading down the treesa year or two after plant.
ing, lnsntes the most vigorous growth and that
filling the ground, for years after setting them
out IN orchards, is essential to the rapid and sue
cessiul growth OF the trees The diseases and early
ueath OF our peach trees. is fertile source of OBJ
ssrvation, far from being exhausted. Among the
insects which are great enemies to these trees is
lliIe beee' called curculio about the size of pea
bug, which punctures the fruit and occasions il to
u
insects may be .eXterminacd by means of hogs 4
This voracous animal, if suffered to 90 at large in
orchards, and among fruit trees, devours ali the
irni. that tails, and among Others the curcuions /
~ the maggot state, which may be contained in /
them. Being thus generally destroyed in The EN-
bryo state, there will be few or no bugs to ascend
from the earth in the spring to inure the fruit 4
Many experienced farmers have noted the advantage 4
Of hogs running in their orchards The best me
a df inr he /,.i
the BARK OF the tree and delights in that region
gust below the surface of the earth) that have
ever employed, is TO draw the dirt f ON the root oil
The tree m the al, end pour boiling water on the
roots In the spring. my sctice is to return the
soil TO the tree in the form Of bill. BY means ollt
THIS sort tree may be preserved many years.
Richard Peters, Pennsylvania.
ne worm or grub, produced by the waap, de
posting It's progeny in the soft bark, near the sur
lace Of the ground, is the most common DESTROYER
o 'he Peach tree. remove the earth few inc he's
round the tree In August or September After:
July the wasp ceases to pierce the bark, and 70
make its deposits. pour round the butt of the !.
tres beginning about one foot above the ground al
quar- or more mot being nice about the ouantityl
Vi oo'lDs noe soapsuds or water. This kills the
eggs OF worm lodged in the tender bar k; and, of
course prevents Its iavages the next season. | also
nave inc trees barred at The roots and exposed to the
"'e'' "aFe lost some in this way =; but / still
continue me practice | have been in the habit of
uohs ms 'or ten or twelve years, and prefer it to
any other treatment To supply deficiencies. IIo
plant young trees every year. When trees become
sticky, grub them up; find that sickly trees
often infect those in vgor near them, bv some NOR
od eAiuyla' The young trees supply their loss.
and have no trouble in nursing those in state of
Stcay which is commonly hopeless task.
W'a'am Core, Darlington, ,Nsw-Jersey.
always search the roots Of my trees twice IN
me season. last OF July and September. On the
FIRST OF October open the ground around The roots
so as TO ieave basin of the size of common wash