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their roots. Planting- may be done at any time during the winter, 

 but the most favourable period is July or up to the middle of August, 

 according to the locality. The distance apart should be from twenty- 

 one to twenty-four feet, and care must be taken not to plant too 

 deeply. Young trees should have their growth regulated so as to 

 to obtain strong and well -formed specimens as soon as possible. 

 Summer pruning may be practised with advantage with young trees. 

 Older trees must have their growth regulated according to their 

 requirements; and, as the fruit is chiefly produced on the young 

 growth, the last season's shoots should be shortened back and thinned 

 out every winter. Keep the ground as free from weeds as possible 

 by frequent light tillage, and before the hot weather sets in mulch 

 the surface soil as far as the roots extend. Propagation is effected 

 by seeds, layers, grafting, or budding. Seedlings will often come 

 fairly true, but still there is a doubt about them, and they are mostly 

 raised for stocks. They should be sown in shallow drills as soon as 

 the fruit is ripe, covering them an inch deep. The next season the 

 young trees should be planted in rows, leaving them nine or ten 

 inches apart in the lines. The following year they will be ready for 

 working. Layers strike freely, but as a rule they do not make such 

 durable and well-shaped trees as can be obtained by other means. 

 Grafting and budding upon seedling* stocks of their own species are 

 the most generally practised methods for perpetuating particular 

 varieties. These operations are performed in the same wav and 

 times as is suitable for other deciduous trees. 



DURION. 



HISTORY AND USKS. 



This is the Indian name of the fruit of Durio Zebethinus. a robust 

 evergreen tree belonging to the order Sterculiaceas, whicn attains a 

 height or seventy or eighty feet. It is indigenous to various parts of 

 Southern Asia, and grows to great perfection in the Malayan 

 Archipelago and the islands of the Indian seas. The flowers are 

 pale yellow, produced from the main stems and larger branches. 

 The fruit is as large as a man's head, being generally about ten 

 inches in length by about seven in breadth. It has a thick hard 

 rind which is covered with warts and short strong prickles. The 

 inner portion consists of several cells which contain the seeds and 

 these are about the size of pigeon's eggs. The seeds are surrounded 

 by a thick cream-like substance which is the portion of the fruit 

 that is utilized. The flavour of the fruit to persons unaccustomed to 

 it is at first most revolting, as its odour may be compared to rotten 

 onions, or decaying animal matter. This strong smell is caused by 

 the presence of a large proportion of sulphuretted hydrogen. The 

 feeling of disgust, however, soon passes a\y;iy. and when that 

 is overcome, it is generally admitted by those who have eaten 



