APRICOTS WATERING AND MULCHING. 55 



and one good soaking then will be sufficient to perfect the crop. After the fruit 

 is gathered, water or liquid manure may be given if the weather continue dry, to 

 help the trees to perfect the wood and buds, too dry soil causing many failures or 

 thin crops of fruit on trees against buildings. 



When trees blossom with great freedom, but rarely set more than a thin crop of 

 fruit, the cause may often be traced to dryness at the roots, which have descended 

 in quest of moisture into the subsoil. When this becomes really dry it is seldom 

 moistened throughout by rain or surface-waterings, especially in soils that have not 

 been properly trenched and rendered more moisture-holding by an admixture of suit- 

 able materials. It is well in such cases to break up the surface in autumn, without 

 much disturbance of the roots, and throw the soil up in ridges running parallel with 

 the wall, preventing damage from frost to the roots by a light covering of litter. 

 The subsoil may during the winter become moistened, but if, upon examination in 

 March, it is still found dry, the hollows between the ridges should be thoroughly 

 soaked with water, renewing as it is absorbed until the subsoil has been moistened. 

 When the water has fairly settled from the surface level the ridges and enrich the 

 soil, then, by keeping it duly moist afterwards the roots will be attracted upwards, 

 and more healthy growth will follow. Where the surface may not be broken up much 

 can be effected by making holes with a crowbar, as advised for trees against cottages, 

 and leaving them open during the winter, charging them occasionally with liquid 

 manure, and before closing making sure that the soil is thoroughly moistened to a deplh 

 of 2 feet or more, rain being supplemented by water as is necessary. 



Mulching. For insuring a moist surface and encouraging the roots to spread and 

 keep active, a covering of short, but not spent manure, is highly commended. Heavy 

 mulchings are not advisable, but a thin covering of the surface with short, sweet, rather 

 lumpy manure, saves labour in watering, and, whilst not depriving the soil of air and 

 rain, preserves a genial condition, uniformly, highly favouring the swelling and perfect- 

 ing of the fruit. A couple of inches in thickness of stable manure, freed of the coarser 

 strawy portions, applied at the end of May or early in June to the whole surface of the 

 border, will prevent it " baking," and great benefit will be derived from the appli- 

 cation. It should be added to from time to time, as is necessary, and as it does not 

 answer to allow the soil to crack after the fruit is gathered, the mulching should be 

 allowed to remain and become wasted, as it will by autumn, by washing into and 

 amalgamating with the soil. 



