1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 257 



come. Possibly he will incur the criticisms, perhaps the rebuke, of cultivators 

 of the show kinds, but he need not be discouraged if such happens. He is now 

 mastering the rudiaaents of his education as a cultivator of the Auricula ; and. 

 we shall always be glad to see what he has to state in regard to his pet flower. — 

 Eds.] 



THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 



{Continued from page 203.) 

 THE APRICOT. 



The young Apricot tree, after it lias attained the age of three, four, 

 or five years, should be in a good condition for planting in a perman- 

 ent position. No young tree should be so planted unless it is in per- 

 fect health, making abundance of strong wood, and having vigorous 

 roo';s. Trees not in a flourishing condition before planting can never 

 be expected to make satisfactory trees. If the Apricot does not pro- 

 duce a healthy tree, possessing six or seven branches at three years' 

 growth from the bud, the chances are it will not do so at four or 

 five. With regard to the best season for planting the Apricot, I think 

 most cultivators are agreed that autumn is the period for planting of 

 all our large-growing hardy fruits — say the end of September or begin- 

 ning of October. If planted then, the roots will start and make young 

 spongioles ready to begin their work with the earliest dawn of vegetation 

 in spring. The value of early planting will therefore be apparent to 

 every gardener. If not planted before the middle of November, delay 

 the operation till the middle or end of January, but not later than the 

 middle of February. As the Apricot is early excited into growth, late 

 planting should be avoided. The tree planted in autumn will not 

 require so much watering and mulching as the one planted during winter 

 or early spring, although it would be to its advantage, planted at any 

 season, to have the benefit of a little attention in this way for the 

 first year or two, especially if the season should prove very dry. Where 

 mulching is done, I would recommend its removal about the middle of 

 August, so that any superfluous moisture might dry up before the rains 

 of autumn and winter set in. This will materially assist the ripening 

 of the wood and the perfecting of the buds. 



The next thing to be considered is the situation best suited for the 

 Apricot. It is seldom the Apricot is planted as a standard, and this 

 mode of cultivation is never attended with any amount of success ex- 

 cept in one or two of the best districts in England. The Breda, the 

 Brussels, and the Roman, being the hardiest, are generally selected for 



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