126 THE FL0BI3T AND POMOLOGIST. [June, 



garden, it is best to raise a batch from seed every year, as these generally prove 

 to be the strongest and most robust plants, although cuttings might be taken 

 from some of the best kinds in order to perpetuate them. Seed, however, saved 

 from good flowers, will invariably produce many others equally as good, and 

 some among them of even better quality. 



Old Shirley. Alexandee Dean. 



SUMMER PRUNING FRUIT TREES IN HOT SEASONS. 



jBSERVING some remarks on the effect of drought on Fruit Trees, &c, by 

 my friend Mr. Wighton, I beg to state that I have found many of his state- 

 ments (p. 52), applicable to our fruit trees here at Dalmeny Park, with 

 these exceptions, that our peach and apricot trees had a very indifferent 

 show of blossom on them in the spring of 1868, which I attribute to the unfavour- 

 able weather of the autumn of 1867. This year it is quite the reverse, as our 

 peaches and apricots look splendid, and so do the apple and plum trees, which 

 is no doubt owing to the fine summer and autumn having thoroughly matured 

 and ripened the wood — a condition of the first consequence as regards enabling 

 the blossom buds to withstand vicissitudes of weather. I may add that last 

 season our pears were very much larger than I ever previously saw them. The 

 Winter Nells, on the walls, was quite double the size it attains in ordinary seasons ; 

 but as regards its flavour and melting properties, it was much inferior to what it 

 generally is, some of the fruits being even gritty. This, I fancy, may be 

 attributed to two causes : first, lack of moisture, and secondly, premature ripen- 

 ing. The fruit, moreover, did not keep so well as usual. 



I quite agree with Mr. Wighton's remarks relative to non-summer pruning, 

 in so dry a season as the past. In corroboration thereof, I may mention that we 

 have here eight Morello cherry trees on a wall with a north aspect. When I. 

 came here twenty-five years ago, there were sixteen trees ; but I cut away each 

 alternate tree, and the eight now completely cover the entire space. Out of 

 curiosity, I lately measured one of them, and found it to cover 750 superficial 

 feet. Most persons who have seen these Morello cherry trees say that they have 

 never seen finer. Now, I have never summer-dressed these trees. The dressing 

 was not omitted out of carelessness in reference to nailing them, as some might 

 judge, for when denuded of their foliage in winter they will bear the inspection 

 of any one. My reason for leaving the breast-wood on was, first, that it might 

 get the influence of the sun to ripen it ; and secondly, that this breast-wood 

 might keep the nets away from the branches, so as to allow a free circulation 

 of air. These conditions were realized apparently without detriment to the 

 trees in respect to their extension and fruitfulness, for I rarely miss having a 

 good crop ; and though the trees are now old, I have on many occasions, with 

 fruit gathered from them, taken the first prize for the finest Morello cherries at 

 our exhibitions. Having so large an extent of Morello wall, I thin out the young 



