272 VILLA GAEDENTNG part hi 



and the cause has been a puzzle for many years. The old horti- 

 cultural writers, Loudon, Nicol, and Forsythe, are silent on the 

 matter, perhaps through not observing it, or because it did not 

 occur in so pronounced a form as now. When a large branch — in 

 some cases half a tree — dies suddenly there must be a cause. The 

 worst cases coming under my own observation were trees which 

 in early life had made very rapid progress. They had been planted 

 in borders nev/ly made of turfy loam, and the growth had been 

 luxuriant ; but as soon as the wall was nicely covered the branches 

 began to die and had to be removed, and at last the trees became 

 such an eyesore as to render a fresh start necessary. I think one 

 source of the mischief was overfeeding when young. Apricots do 

 not require a rich soil, but it should contain plenty of lime and 

 be kept in a firm condition. When the trees have made some 

 growth and begin to bear, it is an easy matter to feed with 

 liquid manure in proportion to the load they are carrying. Bor- 

 ders made of chopped turf are elastic and light, and for a few years, 

 from the decay of the fibre which they contain, are rather too rich 

 for Apricots. When the fibre is all decayed the rapidly-extend- 

 ing tree is brought to a sudden stop, perhaps just at the time 

 it needs extra help, in consequence of being heavily laden with 

 fruit. The sudden check causes a sort of paralysis in the tree's 

 system, which it revenges by suddenly casting off" one or more 

 branches. Make the borders with fresh soil from the top of some 

 arable field, over a limestone bed, if it can be had, and give the 

 turfy loam when the trees begin to bear and need extra help ; 

 by working it into the border the roots will be sure to find it. 

 Gumming very often arises through injury to a branch or stem in 

 the prmiing or training, and special care should be used in this 

 work. The injury causes a wound ; this forms a receptacle or 

 base for a fungus growth, which produces the gum. The remedy 

 is to prune away the diseased part, and cover the place with 

 grafting wax or clay, to which some lime and cow dung have been 

 added, or cover with tar. This is intended to keep out the air 

 until new bark can be formed. 



Varieties. — Moor Park, Breda, D'Alsace, Hemskirk, Kaisha, 

 Peach Apricot. Taken altogether, the Moor Park is the best 

 variety, and, if planted in soil of a suitable character to make 

 wood of moderate strength which would ripen well, to counteract 

 its habit of branch-dying, would be unapproachable. Even as it 

 is, I suppose there are half a dozen trees of this variety planted to 

 one of other kinds. 



