1S73. ] NOTABLE NEW PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 209 



REGULATE YOUR FRUIT CROPS. 



[p^^ANNOT the facts whicli are known regarding tlie biennial or triennial 

 cropping of many varieties of fruit trees be turned to useful account, in 

 view of securing a more equally-balanced crop annually upon all trees 

 alike, in preference to heavy occasional crops ? It is a very common 

 saying, " This tree fruits abundantly every other year," or perhaps every third 

 year. Where pyramidal trees are grown, why not have two or three of a sort, 

 and give them a fillip in this direction, by taking care that each has a good start 

 towards fruiting at a given season, by removing all flower-buds ere they open in 

 those seasons when the tree is not to produce fruit ? Once the habit is 

 established, it will work naturally, with but an occasional exception. When 

 the exception is likely to occur will be apparent from the unusual exhibition 

 of bloom buds in seasons when any particular tree is not designed to fruit. By 

 removing these, matters will be quickly righted. 



There is yet another idea that strikes one in connection with my theory. By a 

 guarantee that each tree shall only fruit every second or every third season, you 

 may, aided by a judicious summer pinching-back and winter pruning, assure to 

 each such an amount of latent vigour as will not only aid it in carrying a very 

 heavy crop of fruit, but make it certain that they shall be fine as regards size, 

 besides, perhaps, containing a larger share than ordinary of those qualities which 

 are most characteristic of given kinds, yet that they shall not exhaust the tree 

 so much as if the tree had been allowed to run the ordinary course. Moreover, 

 even were such a crop permitted as would be likely to exhaust the tree greatly, 

 its constitutional vigour might be maintained by direct and immediate cultural 

 skill, as opposed to the biennial forced unfruitfulness of uncared-for natural 

 exhaustion. The subject has, moreover, a utilitarian interest. We seldom care 

 to have such a mass of fruit all at once as we get now in certain seasons ; it 

 is not appreciated, nor used with the care it might be, were it less abundantly, 

 yet constantly produced, and of better size or flavour.— William Earley, 

 Valentines. 



NOTABLE NEW PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 



[f.c.C. ^ First-class Certificate; s.c.c. = Second-class Certificate; B.C. = Botanical 

 Certificate ; f.c. = Floricultural Certificate.J 



\LNUS INOANA LACINIATA [p.c.c.]. — A Very handsome dark-green cut- 

 leaved Alder, with the leaves smaller, neater, and more regularly 

 pinnatifid than in A. glutinosa lacimata. — Messrs. Lee: R.H.S., Aug. 6. 

 Aster tanaoetifolius [f.c.c.]. — A pretty free-blossoming plant 

 from the Eocky Mountains, with a branching habit, and bright bluish- 

 mauve flowers. Also known as Machceranthera tanacetifolia. — Messrs. Veitch (J* 

 Sons: E.H.S., Aug. 20. 



Azaea microphylla [f.c.c,]. — A small-leaved shrub of neat habit from Chili. 

 Said to be hardy, and having a flattened or spread-out form of growth that will 

 make it suitable for walls. — Messrs. Veitch & So7is: li.II.S., Jul// 16. 



