1879.] HARDY FRUITS. 219 



A batch of cuttings may be put in six weeks or so later, to grow on 

 for later flowering, and treated in all respects like the others. About 

 the month of June they may be put into a cooler house, or even into 

 cold pits, but kept away from cold draughts. 



The old plants will come in nicely for early flowering, if after the 

 cuttings are taken off they be partially shaken out and repotted into 

 fresh soil, and will come in very useful in April or May, when the 

 spring bulbs are past. The following list of a dozen varieties may be 

 pretty well relied on as satisfactory, viz. — Admiration, Avalanche, 

 Coma, Mrs Ballantyne, Arabella, Princess Beatrice, Marksman, Lord 

 Beaconslield, Noblesse, Commander, Rose of Castile, Starlight. 



J. G. W. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



The present month is generally a period of much anxiety among fruit- 

 growers, especially to those who make it a business and who in a great 

 measure depend on the crops for their living. In this vast fruit-grow- 

 ing district it is a matter of great moment to have a fine fruit-crop. 

 The present season, being a month later than what we have experienced 

 for some years past, gives a substantial hope of abundance ; and it is 

 hardly possible that the trees could be heavier loaded with fruit-buds ; 

 but such promise is not very desirable with trees which are weakly and 

 exhausted ; a heavy clothing of blossom often meaning a great portion 

 of the embryo fruit perishing. The finely-ripened wood and lateness 

 are, however, much in favour of plenty. Where trees are under careful 

 manipulation as regards thinning, their chances are two to one against 

 the slovenly matted system not uncommon with the " penny-wise " 

 cultivators. We have had some favourable opportunities of noticing 

 what may be expected from the tree this year. Taking a ride south- 

 ward through the Evesham district, and some others, where fruit and 

 vegetable growing are on an extensive scale, the former could not look 

 more promising, while the latter never looked more wretched ; and the 

 cold easterly winds and falling snow as at present (April 12th) do 

 not give " sweet solace " to market-growers of vegetables. With our- 

 selves there is not much to complain of, beyond the loss of about 2000 

 Broccolis and the extreme lateness of growth. Frost about 6° to 7° 

 each night at present, I fear, will cripple the Pear buds, especially those 

 kinds which open early. Trees on walls may be protected in a measure, 

 but standards, pyramids, and bushes in the open gardens and orchards 

 can have little done for them. 



During May there is such a pressure of work in gardens, that the 

 disbudding of trees and general attention they require are overlooked 

 and postponed. To be successful with fruits (as indeed with most other 

 cultural matters), the adage, " delays are dangerous," must have 



