1 88 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Where bone meal and kainit have been supplied in the autumn or late winter, and the 

 trees promise well for fruit, nitrogenous manure must be given in the spring, say nitrate 

 of soda, 2 hundredweight per acre, If pound per rod, 1 ounce per square yard. Instead 

 of giving this dressing all at one time it is better to divide it into three, one when the 

 buds are sufficiently advanced to show what the crop is likely to be, another when the 

 fruit commences swelling after setting and the third when about half its full size. 



Protecting the Blossoms. Trees against south and west walls have the blossoming 

 accelerated and may require protection from frost ; also those in the open in warm 

 situations and early seasons. Various methods of affording the needful shelter will be 

 found on pages 193 197, Vol. I. The plum, being the hardiest of stone fruits, does 

 not require so much protection as the apricot and peach and the materials casting the 

 least shade, also admitting the most air, are the best, fish nets generally affording the 

 needful shelter. Opaque material may only be used when the weather is so cold as to 

 threaten the safety of the blossom or young fruit and it must be withdrawn immediately 

 the frosts are gone. 



Dryness at the roots hinders the swelling of the fruit and prejudicially affects 

 the health of the trees ; therefore regard must be had to the proper maintenance of 

 moisture, affording the needful supplies to trees in dry positions. Feeding with liquid 

 manure or sewage, properly diluted, is an absolute necessity for trees carrying heavy 

 crops in dry seasons and sites. It is most important to supply liquid nourishment 

 before the trees become distressed, and if the surface is covered with short manure the 

 moisture will be conserved for some time. 



Syringing. A forcible washing of the foliage occasionally with a hose or garden- 

 engine is valuable in freeing it of insects and cleansing it from dust. It is best done in 

 the evening. For dislodging insects the force of the water must be directed against the 

 under side of the leaves ; for removing dust the water should be disti-ibuted over the 

 tree. An occasional syringing in the evening of hot days greatly refreshes the trees and 

 keeps red spider in check, but it must cease before the fruit changes colour for ripening. 



Thinning the Fruit. The set of fruit in some years is several times greater than the 

 trees can possibly bring to full size, high quality and profitableness. Some varieties 

 are far more prolific than others, but most kinds bear excessively in what are called plum 

 seasons about every third year. This is mainly due to indulging in over-burdening 

 crops and the result is temporary exhaustion sterility for one or two years, often 

 accompanied by loss of health and sometimes the collapse of the trees. Thinning the 



