1879.] HARDY FRUITS. 267 



they are fit to handle the young plants should be pricked off into small 

 thumb-pots or seed-pans, gently watered, and shaded for a few days till 

 they take to the new soil. The soil best suited for these is an equal 

 mixture of good fibrous peat, loam, leaf-mould, and about a sixth part 

 of sand when the plants are small, with the addition of charcoal, bone- 

 dust, and thoroughly decomposed cow-dung when the plants attain size 

 and strength and require to be shifted on into larger pots. 



Existing varieties should be repotted annually as soon as the bulbs 

 begin to grow ; and in doing so the old soil must be entirely removed, 

 which can be easily accomplished if the bulbs are allowed to become 

 rather dry. It is also advisable to put them into smaller pots, of size 

 sufficient to allow an inch or so of fresh soil between the bulbs and the 

 sides of the pots — this will allow of their being shifted once or twice 

 during the summer before the flowering season. They must be shifted 

 on whenever the roots reach the sides of the pots ; and when growing 

 freely they must be carefully watered and kept in a light, airy posi- 

 tion near the glass without exposing them to cold draughts. A little 

 guano- water may be given occasionally ; and when the flowers begin 

 to expand a slight shade will be necessary to prolong the flowering 

 season as much as possible. Choice varieties can be propagated from 

 cuttings and leaves taken off with a sharp knife and inserted in 4- or 

 5-inch pots in light soil, with a layer of silver sand on the surface, and 

 covered with a bell-glass. When the flowering season is past and the 

 growth nearly finished, stand them out in a cold frame, fully exposed 

 to the sun, until they are thoroughly ripened and gone to rest, when 

 they can be stored away in any place where they can be kept cool and 

 moderately dry until wanted for potting again. Dundonian. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



With all the favourable reports from the great fruit-growing districts of the 

 "promise" for fruit crops, and the singular lateness of the season which 

 is likely to keep the flower-buds from opening, so that they would be out of 

 danger of late frosts, yet the buds are open or opening, and the severity of the 

 weather decreases but little, so disappointment may come after all. On look- 

 ing over a very fine "set " of Peaches and Nectarines on the open walls, we find 

 the greater portion of them black and soft as pulp. We fear if a favourable 

 change does not come soon (May 14), the sanguine hopes of the great fruit- 

 cultivators will be greatly modified. 



Trees trained to walls and other fences will now require a general overhaul. 

 The strong shoots which are so general on healthy trees may require stopping 

 before they rob their fellows. Thin out all shoots not wanted for next season's 

 fruit-bearing ; endeavour to get all bare portions of the walls covered— not at 

 random, however, but by systematic training, keeping the shoots as straight 

 as possible, pointing regularly in the right direction — that is, when fan- 

 training is practised. If horizontal - training be the style adopted, then 

 lead them in lines running straight with the bricks. Where wires have 



