66 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



quality of the produce, and the present and after well-being of the tree. When young 

 apricots set very thickly it is well to go over them as soon as the properly-fertilised 

 fruits can be distinguished by their taking the lead in swelling, and relieve the tree of 

 some of its superabundant crop. The smallest and ill- shaped should be first removed, and 

 those which are likely from their position to become squeezed between the wall and the 

 branches, or in some of the angles of the latter. Trees that are crowded with young 

 fruit should be gone over three times, removing a quantity each time : first, when the fruit 

 is the size of horse-beans ; second, when as large as a hazel-nut ; and third, when the size 

 of a cob-nut or small walnut, leaving but few more at the last thinning than are necessary 

 for the crop. Nothing is so detrimental to the health and sustained fertility of a tree 

 as allowing a superabundance of fruit to remain until it is well advanced in stoning, 

 then removing all at once a peck of fruit which, if thinning were done early, as 

 advised, might be put in a quart measure or less. Weak trees ought not to be allowed to 

 bring to perfection so many fruits as those that are vigorous, but strong branches may 

 be allowed to carry more fruit than those which are weak, as the extra cropping of the 

 vigorous branches will prevent their becoming too strong. One fruit of the large kinds 

 to every half superficial foot of surface is sufficient to leave upon a vigorous tree to insure 

 produce of the largest size and highest quality. Medium-sized varieties may have the 

 fruit left 5 inches asunder, whilst the small sorts ought to have the fruit thinned to 4 

 inches apart to secure representative fruit for preserving. Each fruit must be allotted the 

 square of the distance ; large kinds having four, medium-sized varieties about seven, and 

 the small sorts twelve fruits respectively to the square foot. Those are full crop 

 quantities for vigorous trees ; none should be overburdened, but have the fruit left 

 proportionate to their strength. 



General Summer Treatment. In addition to matters already treated, there are others 

 of detail largely influencing results. Securing the growths as they advance is essential 

 to prevent breakage ; give them the required inclination, and insure against their inter- 

 ference with the fruiting parts. Sufficient space should be left in the ligatures for the 

 swelling of the shoots, and the trees ought to be examined at short, regular intervals for 

 the needful regulation of the growths. A sharp look-out must be kept for enemies, 

 assailing them upon their first appearance by the prompt application of an insecticide or 

 fungicide as circumstances occasion. When a solution is used, leaving a deposit on the 

 foliage, it should be thoroughly cleansed by a forcible syringing with clear, soft water. 

 Beyond that, and an occasional washing to cleanse the foliage of dust ? no syringing is 



