258 THE GARDENER. [June 



this purpose. Wall cultivation is pretty generally adopted throughout 

 the United Kingdom : to this I will confine myself. In the south of 

 England both the east and west aspects have been selected for the 

 Apricot, but in my estimation the west is the better of the two. In 

 spring, when the trees are in bloom, sharp frosts are apt to set in from 

 the east and north-east, so that the trees having an eastern aspect are 

 more likely to suffer than those on a west wall, especially if with the 

 frost comes a slight breeze. It may be argued that nets will protect 

 the blossoms, but of this I am somewhat sceptical ; for though the frost 

 falls perpendicularly, yet in proportion to the motion of the atmos- 

 phere will be the angle at which it will fall, so that the greater the 

 angle, the greater the chances will be for the frost to find its way to 

 the flowers. In the western aspect the reverse takes place, for the 

 greater the motion in the atmosphere the greater will be the chances 

 of its being carried clear of the trees. All things considered, I prefer 

 a west to an east wall for the Apricot in the best districts of the coun- 

 try. In the northern parts of England and the whole of Scotland there 

 can be no doubt that the south is the best aspect for it. 



The soil which best suits the Apricot is a good friable loam, free 

 and open, and having a fair admixture of sand, should this not be 

 possessed by it in its natural state. Great attention should be given 

 to the making of the borders, as much of the after-success depends 

 upon this. Drainage is of prime importance ; for though the Apricot 

 delights in moisture during the growing season, yet it is very impatient 

 of it at other times, more especially if stagnant about the roots. To 

 obviate this, let the border be well drained, having an arterial drain pass- 

 ing along the front of the border at the depth of 3J feet or more, with 

 branch ones running up every 10 or 12 feet from it to the wall. 

 These having been carefully placed into position, let 6 or 8 inches of 

 rubble be placed over the whole bottom of the border much in the 

 same way as for Vines. This will assist the drains to perform their 

 work, and prevent, to some extent, the falling in of the soil upon the 

 tiles, which might find its way into them, and probably fill them up. 

 As I have before stated, the opener and freer the soil the better for the 

 Apricot. A light loam from an old pasture is the best — the more fibre 

 in it the better. It should be cut several months before it is required, 

 and put into a heap so as to destroy vegetable growth. The soil before 

 being used should, if in the least approaching " heavy," have a quantity 

 of some such material as lime-rubbish, charcoal, or wood-ashes added to 

 it, in proportion to the quantity, to make it porous and free. Should 

 none of these be easily procured, I should never hesitate to use manure 

 such as can be procured about all towns, with a good mixture of coal- 

 ashes in it. This having been got ready, let a layer of turf be laid over 



