produce fruit; but I trust that the plants will not be neglected by those to whose care I shall entrust them, and that the produce of some of them will be hereafter honoured by the approbation of the Horticultural Society. Qu preventing the Depredations of the Turnip Fly. By Mr. ARCHIBALD GORRIE, Rait Garden. IN the month of March 1810, I had a sowing of early Dutch turnips above ground, on a south border, soil strong black loam. About the 20th, I observed some of the flies begin to attack them, and in a few days they all disappeared. To prevent this happening to the next sowing, I steeped the seeds two days previous to sowing, in a strong ley mixed with sulphur. About the middle of April, this sowing began to rise, and the seminal leaves were fully expanded in two days, when they likewise began to disappear. The next sowing without sulphur, was above ground about the latter end of April; and this, I endeavoured to preserve, by sowing a little soot along the drills; at the same time, I dusted over some rows with coal-ashes, river sand, and road dust, two rows with each. I was surprised to see the fly devouring the turnips dusted with soot so voraciously, that few of them stood one day, and what remained were totally dispatched next morning, although none were burnt by the soot, it being laid on quite thin. The next that gave way were those covered with ashes; and lastly, those covered with sand, became a prey to destructive insects. After a number of other unsuccessful experiments, I tried how quicklime might defend the young turnips from their merciless devourers. I dusted over a few rows with it; and it was washed off about a week after, when I found the turnips uncommonly fresh and green, although they had been almost devoured previous to my applying the limedust. I then went on with confidence, dusting all my young turnips the moment I perceived the fly begin to threaten them. Leaving a few rows undusted, to prove the experiment, I found those I left undusted go off rapidly. I was doubtful that my success was in some measure owing to the advanced state of the season, and the consequent rapid progress of vegetation, but from repeated trials made in the early part of this scason with uniform success, I am confirmed in the opinion, that quicklime dusted over the seminal leaves of young turnips, is both an easy and effectual method for preventing the depredations of the turnip-fly. A bushel of quicklime is sufficient to dust over an acre of drilled turnips; and a boy may soon. be taught to lay it on almost as fast as he could walk along the drills. If the seminal leaves are powdered in the slightest degree, it is sufficient, but should rain wash the lime off before the turnips are in the rough leaf, it may be necessary to repeat the operation, if the fly begin to make its appearance. On the present Mode of Budding and Grafting Fruit Trees. By Mr. JOHN WILMOT, of Isleworth. From the Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London. mom THE good old way of grafting and budding fruit trees, was to do this upon a stem or stock several feet in height; and it is by this mode of raising trees that we now see so many beautiful and flourishing orchards. But this will, I very much fear, be looked for in vain by those who are to come after us, if a stop is not speedily put to the method followed at present. They are grafted and budded upon stocks but a few inches high; and this practice, (although it certainly answers the purpose of promoting a quick supply of plants,) if it be well considered, will be productive of the greatest mischief. The nurseryman in working the standard fruit tree from the bottom of the stock, is not only injuring the individual who plants, but does irreparable injury to the public. Trees thus worked, I am well assured, will, in the ordinary course of things, last but a few years. This I perceive must be particularly the case with trees planted in a garden, where frequent manurings are continually adding to the soil, so that in a few years it becomes raised above the budded part. In this case the whole of the wild stock becomes buried, and it is by that means deprived of the genial influence of the sun and of the atmosphere; and being thus abridged of the nourishment and refreshings which nature intended for it, it begins to decline in vigour and soon after decays and perishes. This I have frequently observed in my own experience, and hence it is that trees are continually decaying, and such frequent supplies of them are required. ion It ought also to be considered, for it is in my opin a matter of great importance, that by the practice I deprecate, fruit trees are exposed to much greater danger through external injuries than they otherwise would be. It is notorious, that the bearing stem (especially of peaches, nectarines, and apricots) is much more tender, and therefore much more liable to be injured than the wild stock; and, if injured, is by no means so likely to be so soon and effectually healed. Every man of observation knows, that the wild stock will bear, without material injury, wounds and bruises, which would occasion to the other a rapid and incurable decline. As therefore, by this new method, the whole, or almost the whole, of the stem of the tree is of this tender nature, and by the old method the whole of the stem was of the hardiest wild stock, it is evident, that trees, as they are now raised, are exposed to perpetual injuries from the spade, cattle, insects, &c. which they would not be if the old method of working from the top were to be restored. Arguments need not, I conceive, be multiplied to prove that nature in its wild state is much more able to bear injuries with impunity than it is in a state of cultivation, and that the latter often become a prey to gum, canker, &c. which produce a gradual decline, from causes which would do none, or a very trifling injury to the wild stock. |