i88i.] FRUIT -CULTURE. 511 



managed, they may be kept compact and close to the branches and wall for 

 years. When they get long and straggling it is time to replace them ; for 

 although spurs which stand far out may produce fruit, yet fruit which is far 

 from the wall is always inferior to that close to it ; and in late localities, ia 

 cold seasons, it often does not ripen at all. In warm localities this result is 

 not so much to be feared ; but even in favoured districts, the fruit which is 

 close to the wall is always finest. 



Moor Park X^vicot differs from the others in that it bears chiefly on the year- 

 old wood in the same way that Peaches do. It should therefore be ^trained, 

 pruned, and disbudded in the same way as Peaches. Spurs formed by pinch- 

 ing in superfluous shoots also bear freely. It is said there are two varieties 

 of the Moor Park Apricot, one much inferior to the other. The best variety 

 is considered the best Apricot grown, but Breda and Brussels are hardier. 

 Hemskirk is also good. 



Like Peaches and ISTectarines, Apricots are generally budded on Plum-stocks, 

 and therefore lifting and root-pruning, when that is necessarj'-, should be done 

 in the same way in all three cases. It may be observed here of all these fruits, 

 that lifting and root-pruning should only be done to moderate a too strong 

 growth, which means a great profnsion of shoots and leaves, but little or no 

 fruit, and that little of an inferior kind. Sometimes lifting only, without 

 root-pruning, is needed. It is essential to keep tree-roots fibry and near the 

 surface, for reasons which we have before stated. However necessary lifting 

 and root-pruning may be, and very often is, especially in cold localities, it 

 would be worse than folly to lift and root-prune a tree that was making short 

 sturdy growths and forming fruit-buds freely. In our paj^ers on the Apple, we 

 have shown how to keep roots near the surface by mulching, how to assist trees 

 when bearing, and how to check them when, through having their blossoms de- 

 stroyed, and thus being barren, the}'^ run into shoots merely. To all the trees 

 which we have referred these directions apply equally, and therefore we need not 

 repeat them. We have tried to enforce the principles which should govern be- 

 ginners, and have also given such details as we thought necessary. But only 

 practice can make perfection, and only observation teach all that is necessary 

 to success. Practice needs to be somewhat varied, according to soil, climate, 

 and other things. In the warm sunny south, especially on deep soils, trees 

 may grow strongly, and yet, by being thoroughly ripened, bear fine crops of 

 excellent fruit. 



In the cold north, especially' in wet localities, a much more restricted 

 growth is required, for trees which grow strongly very often fail to produce 

 fruit at all. In hot dry localities, deep soils, into which roots may sink for 

 sustenance when the surface is parched and dry, may be absolutely necessary 

 in order to secure success. When the climate is cold and the rainfall great, 

 the roots cannot be too near the surface, otherwise the sap drawn out of the 

 cold undersoil may so keep down the temperature of the trees that blossom- 

 buds never form, or if they do, the fruit never ripens. When fruit-growers 

 understand all this, and the capabilities of their own garden and climate and 

 soil, they will know how to vary their practice to secure success. With the 

 best of skill and the profoundest knowledge, northern gardeners can never 

 produce results equal to those in the more favoured south ; but the possession 

 and application of these to barren fruit-trees may produce results which may 

 astonish those who have laboured in vain, simply for want of the knowledge 

 of those principles which we have endeavoured to explain, or for want of 

 opportunity to apply them. 



