248 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



side of India, The fruit, borne in clusters, resembles a very 

 small Pear. Although there are no distinct varieties specially 

 named, there is a great difference in the fruits produced from 

 different trees. 



One sort is remarkable for its deep apricot colour, while an- 

 other ripens of a light primrose colour. Others are more or less 

 distinguished by their acidity or sweetness, or the largeness of 

 their stones, and by the size of the fruit itself. 



It is probable, however, the merit of this most delicious fruit 

 may depend much upon the cultivation bestowed upon it. The 

 season is usually very dry when the fruit is swelling. Un- 

 doubtedly an abundant supply of water at that period, as well as 

 occasional drenches of liquid manure, would be highly beneficial. 

 The late Captain Hollings* stated that Loquats produced in 

 the gardens at Lucknow weighed as much as three tolas each. 



The trees come into blossom twice in the year : first, in August, 

 when, however, they set no fruit ; and again about the end of 

 November. The flowers are borne in erect bunches, are of a 

 dingy white colour, and emit a delightful fragrance, somewhat 

 like that of the Hawthorn blossom. The fruit is in season from 

 about the middle of March till the middle of April. Besides 

 being so excellent for the dessert, a remarkably fine preserve 

 may likewise be made from it. 



Plants are usually propagated from seed, which should be 

 sown immediately, as it is said not to keep ; but to make certain 

 of a good sort it is best to obtain grafts from some tree the merit 

 of whose fruit has been already ascertained, and not to rely upon 

 what a seedling may chance to produce. 



The Loquat rarely makes a superabundant growth of wood. 

 Pruning, therefore, is perhaps best abstained from altogether, 

 except it be the cutting in of the small branches that have just 

 borne fruit. Care, however, should be taken not to shorten, on 

 the approach of the Cold season, any of the young shoots of the 

 past season's growth, as it is from the extremities of these that 

 flowers are always produced. 



The Loquat grows to a great size in Assam. In a garden at 

 Gowhatti a tree I measured had a trunk as much as fifty inches 

 in girth, and was correspondingly high. It seemed to be wholly 

 unproductive. 



* ' Journal of the Agri-Horf. Society,' vol. iii. p. 72. 



