APRICOTS FORCING. 83 



keep up a free circulation of the sap, which it is always desirable to maintain. This 

 can readily be effected by allowing young wood from the base of a branch to extend, 

 and then a worn-out branch can be cut away in its favour. In that way standard apricot 

 trees may be kept healthy and fruitful for many years, if crowded spurs are thinned 

 and elongations shortened. By judicious feeding, fine fruit is produced abundantly. 

 Over-luxuriance may be checked by occasional lifting and root-pruning, whilst weakly 

 trues can be invigorated with fresh soil. 



r a a 



Fig. 33. A SPAN-ROOF HOUSE FOK Ai EICOTS. 



References : a, drain ; 6, nibble ; c, border ; d, 4-inch hot-water pipes ; e, batten pathway ; /, iron pillars ; 

 g, front lights; h, top lights ; i, movable roof lighte, upper lights opening as shown ; j, trees on 18-inch stems ; 

 k, trees on 3>-feet stems, ends of structure north and south. 



Although the finest fruit is borne on trees trained to trellises near the glass, the 

 apricot succeeds admirably grown as dwarf standards planted out, or in bush, pyramid, 

 or standard forms in pots or tubs. Trees grown in these shapes present a great 

 extent of surface to light, and if they receive it unobstructed through clear glass they 

 produce large crops of good fruit. 



FORCING APRICOTS. 



Wall cases with the trees trained to the wall are not suitable for early forcing ; 



K 2 



