APRICOTSSOIL. 49 



Tn the southern parts of England, walls with western aspects are often advised ; 

 but our experience teaches that eastern aspects with a southerly inclination are the most 

 suitable. Western aspects are too moist. South-east aspects answer as far north as 

 the Ilumber. South-west aspects are more moisture-laden than easterly, and thus 

 contribute to earlier development of blossom, late growth, and immature wood. 

 Easterly winds are proverbially cold and dry, and as they prevail most in spring, they 

 retard the flowering and assist the blossom. The fruit also ripens more evenly because 

 sheltered from the rain, which is most prevalent from the west in summer, and often 

 beats forcibly against ripening apricots. Objections to the fruit ripening on one side 

 on south aspects, whilst the other side is hard and unripe, will continue to be heard 

 where the sun acts directly on the fruit whilst the other side is shaded. This can bu 

 obviated by a better disposal of foliage, or light shading material, when the crops are 

 ripening, which to some extent also lessens the liability to dry ness and mealiness in 

 the fruit, but that is not due to aspect so much as to neglect in supplying the 

 requisite nutriment to the roots of the trees. North of the Thames south aspects arc 

 the most desirable. North of the Ilumber south or south-east aspects are essential, and 

 in some few places in the north, flued and heated walls with a southern aspect 

 are found necessary to insure full and properly matured crops of this valuable fruit. 



SOIL. 



Where the wild plum flourishes there the apricot will do so. In soils that give 

 luxuriance to rhododendrons the apricot would languish, whether it be peat or strong 

 clay. It likes a friable loam, whether that is caused through silicious or calcareous 

 matter. The finest trees we have seen were growing in silicious earth of good depth, 

 over sand and gravel. Silicious and calcareous substances are essential to the successful 

 cultivation of this and all stone fruits. There are few soils that do not contain lime, 

 and still fewer that are devoid of sand ; the point is to have them soluble and available 

 for the building up of healthy fruitful trees. This is effected by judicious applications 

 of manures, which, whilst directly furnishing nutriment, act on the inorganic elements, 

 and liberate enough silicious and calcareous matter to give stability to the growth. 

 Good friable loam suits the apricot. If it be light through an excess of sand, clay 

 marl, dried and smashed, can be added to the extent of one-fourth to one-sixth; 

 if strong, road-scrapings and old mortar rubbish will, in similar proportions, give 

 it the required consistence. Soil deficient of calcareous matter should have lime 



YOL. II. H 



