1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 349 



showing; they should, however, receive their final shifts by the end of 

 the year, and be gently grown, and heat should be given only on 

 special occasions — as for instance, to exclude frost and dry the house, 

 giving air at the same time. Early in January there should be the 

 commencement of tying the plants into shape, as the old wood as well 

 as the young can at this stage be twisted with less danger than later 

 in the season, when it is full of sap. As before stated, care must be 

 taken not to water the plants too freely, as it is not quick growth that 

 is required so much as short strong shoots, which will insure fine 

 flowers as well as a good head of bloom. 



The later in the year the plants are required for exhibition purposes, 

 the more valuable does experience become, and the greater necessity 

 is there for the due exercise of forethought. There is no more valu- 

 able teacher than experience ; perhaps there is scarcely a preceptor 

 whose lessons are more disregarded by some — certainly not by success- 

 ful exhibitors of the Show Pelargonium. 



THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 



THE APRICOT. 



(Continued from page 303.) 



The Apricot, as has already been hinted, starts into activity at the 

 earliest approach of spring, and, as a consequence of this, produces its 

 bloom at a time when we often suffer much from sharp frosts in the 

 morning. It is therefore of the greatest importance to use some arti- 

 ficial means whereby to guard against the evil consequences which 

 would result from exposure to even two or three degrees of frost. 

 Various plans have been adopted at different times by cultivators, but 

 the best, to my mind, is that practised at Floors Castle by Mr Rose, 

 now of Frogmore. The Apricot-wall there has a western aspect, so 

 that tho reader will observe it is not placed in what, for Scotland, is 

 generally considered the best position — viz., the southern ; yet, from 

 several years' observation, I can state that wall never failed to pro- 

 duce a crop of first-rate fruit. The plan adopted was as follows : — 

 "When the buds began to swell, poles were obtained reaching to the 

 top of the wall under the cope, while their bottoms rested upon the 

 border 3 feet or thereby from the base of the wall — the tops so secured 

 as that there was no chance of being blown over by wind : this having 

 been accomplished, woollen netting — one net of which is as good as 

 ten of the ordinary kind used for this purpose — was fastened to the 

 cope and allowed to hang loosely down over the poles. Small blocks 



