APRIL. 



62-* 



APRIL, 



growth as the sap rises, and deprive the 

 fruit buds of the nutriment that would 

 otherwise fall to their share. At the end of 

 the month, therefore, some of these wood 

 buds should be gradually removed, say two 

 t a time at intervals of six or seven days, 

 leaving those that are best placed to afford 

 fruit-bearing shoots next year. The end 

 shoot of the branch, which is the main 

 shoot in continuance of it, should also be 

 stopped, in order to divert the sap into the 

 fruit buds and wood buds that are left. 



Gooseberries and Currants^ pruned in 

 January and top dressed in March, by re 

 moving an inch or two of soil and re- 

 placing with a compost of loam and decayed 

 dung, in equal proportions, extending to 

 the extremity of the roots, will now require 

 little attention till the fruit begins to form. 

 The ground between bush fruit should be 

 kept clean and free from weeds and grass 

 at all times, and it is better to abstain from 

 planting between the rows unless they are 

 unusually far apart. 



Peaches and Nectarines. Peaches and 

 nectarines are advancing towards blossom, 

 and apricots, on a south wall, will be show- 

 ing their bloom. These now require the 

 greatest attention. If the autumn and 

 winter months have been wet and cloudy, 

 the fruit-bearing branches will be weak and 

 watery. Every protection from spring frost 

 should be given to the tree under these 

 circumstances. In such seasons, especially 

 in the months of August and September, 

 the young shoots being unripened in the 

 previous autumn, the trees are subject to 

 the ravages of the green fly. If not ob- 

 served at once, they commit very serious 

 damage. Tobacco water, in the proportion 

 of two ounces of tobacco infused in a quart 

 of boiling water, is a remedy as well as a 

 protection, when applied cool to the tree 

 with a brush. A weaker decoction may be 

 applied with the syringe with advantage. 

 Peaches* &*., Fruit Buds on. The per- 



fect bearing shoots of the peach and necta- 

 rine are known by their buds towards the 

 base of the shoots. Some of these are 

 pointed, single buds, with a brownish enve- 

 lope ; these are leaf buds. Next to these, 

 and higher up the shoot, are triple buds ; 

 a plump, silver-coated one on each side, 

 and a thin one in the centre. The central 

 one is a leaf bud, the outer two are blossom 

 buds; and it should be the aim of the 

 pruner to cultivate as many of them as 

 possible. 



Planting. Planting of all kinds, except 

 in cases of absolute necessity, should now 

 be over for the season. Should, however, 

 it still be necessary to plant, precautions 

 should be taken to protect the tender roots, 

 while they are yet foreign to the soil, both 

 from frost and heat, by mulching with long 

 stable manure, or, as some recommend, by 

 laying a layer of pebbles over them, laid on 

 a bed of sand, and covering that, during 

 the spring months, with ferns, haulm, or 

 other attainable rubbish. 



Protection for Fruit Trees. The ques- 

 tion of protection is one on which the 

 authorities are by no means agreed ; but 

 Mr. Mclntosh and some of the best 

 gardeners recommend temporary projecting 

 copings to the walls, and canvas or calico 

 curtains depending from them. Others 

 find a worsted netting of small rcesh and 

 thickish thread a sufficient protection, while 

 it leaves a freer play to the natural atmos- 

 phere round the trees; and many good 

 authorities favour this view. Another 

 object of protection in the early spring is 

 to retard the blossoms by shading from the 

 sun. For this purpose, canvas, suspended 

 before them during the heat of the day, is 

 the most efficient. 



Pruning. All winter pruning that is 

 to say, cutting off portions of last year's 

 wood where necessary should be completed 

 as early in the month as possible, if not 

 already finished in March. During April, 



