5 o THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



rubbish added to it if strong; if light, chalk is better, but clay marl is the most 

 suitable for light soils. 



The first requisite in apricot culture is drainage. No water must lodge within 3 

 feet of the surface. This is particularly necessary in deep loams, for in these the trees 

 grow luxuriantly, and in dry seasons the roots penetrate deeply, through lack of moisture 

 near the surface. Drainage must be efficient, but some soils are naturally drained. The 

 soil should be stirred or trenched to a depth of 2 feet, and have the bottom broken 

 up. If it has long been under cultivation, some fresh turfy loam mixed with it in 

 trenching will be a desirable addition, employing strong fibrous loam for light soils, and 

 light loam for heavy. Stratified soils are best broken up ; the most fertile are those 

 naturally or artificially blended. 



Forming Borders. Where the soil is a stiff clay, or its opposite extreme, namely, a 

 brash of gravel, or sand, it is cheapest to make a proper border. The width need not 

 exceed 4 feet in the first instance, and never need be wider than two- thirds the height 

 of the wall the trees are to cover. It should be excavated to a depth of 3 feet, 

 the bottom to fall to drains a foot lower, and 1 foot 6 inches from the wall. The 

 drains should not be covered with soil, but with stones. Brickbats or other rough clean 

 material not of a nature destructive to vegetation should be placed 6 inches thick at 

 the bottom of the border for drainage, and on this 3 inches of finer, preferably old 

 mortar rubbish, freed of pieces of wood. The border may then be filled 6 inches above 

 its intended height with the top spit of a pasture where the soil is a good loam, sandy 

 rather than heavy. Chalk, in pieces from the size of a hazelnut to a hen's egg, or clay marl 

 to the extent of a sixth, may be added in silicious soils ; for strong loam substitute old 

 mortar rubbish or sandy marl. Avoid manure. All operations in connection with 

 border making are best done in dry weather, and with the soil in good working order. 

 The work should be done a month or six weeks in advance of planting. 



PLANTING. 



Choice of Trees. See that the trees are budded, if maidens, at the right height, and 

 for other description of trees the rule before given applies. Make sure that the junction 

 of the scion with the stock is complete, that there is a clean healthy bark on the stock 

 as well as the tree, the latter not strong and gross, yet sturdy, short jointed, and the 

 wood firm. If there be any exudation or trace thereof, reject the tree, whether the gum 

 be on stem or branch. Two or three years' trained trees are suitable ; also older that have 



