APK 



[ 57] 



APR 



Propagation is best done by budding. 

 Some choose the Apricot stock, or those 

 from the kernels ; others prefer the Plum 

 stock: the latter, however, has been 

 much complained of in late 7/ears. Our 

 nurserymen have what is called a " com- 

 moner " stock, which appears to be a sort 

 of wild Plum, and which, in general, 

 answers pretty well. 



For dwarfs, bud at eight inches from 

 the soil ; for half-standards, at three feet; 

 and for standards, at five feet. 



Period of Planting. Those who wish 

 to gain time may plant successfully in 

 the first or second week of October : any 

 time, however, from that period until the 

 early part of March will do. 



Soil. A good, sound, and rather unctu- 

 ous loam is best, using a little ordinary 

 vegetable matter, but no manure, unless 

 on the surface. See MULCHING. Do 

 not make the soil deeper than eighteen 

 inches. See article STATIONS. 



Aspect. A south aspect is best in the 

 northern parts of the kingdom ; but the 

 east and west frequently produce superior 

 fruit in the southern counties, where 

 very warm aspects are apt to produce 

 mealy fruit in hot seasons. Standards 

 can only be grown in our southern dis- 

 tricts, where they are sometimes very 

 prolific and high -flavoured. As standards, 

 they are several years in coming into 

 bearing. 



Training. The branches should be on 

 an average from six to eight inches apart, 

 and kept as horizontal as possible. The 

 following is a very good form ; but the 

 ordinary fan-training is very well adapted, 

 ff care be taken to pinch over-luxuriant 

 shoots in time. 



Pruning must be regulated by the 

 knowledge that, with the exception of 

 Buch as the Moorpark, many varieties 



bear chiefly on the shoots of the previous 

 year; the Moorpark mostly on spurs 

 two and three years' old. 



Summer Pruning. Take off all fore- 

 right shoots, and others that are irregular 

 and misplaced, reserving those that are 

 not too vigorous, and that will train in 

 well for next year's bearing. If done 

 early in May, the finger and thumb will 

 supersede the necessity for the knife. 

 Continue to nail the shoots to the wall, 

 as necessary, during the summer, tying 

 down or nailing in all short-jointed, weak- 

 looking spray. Over- vigorous shoots may 

 be stopped early in June, and be thus 

 induced to put forth more fertile laterals. 



Winter Pruning had best be done as 

 soon as the leaves have fallen, though it 

 may be carried on until the buds begin 

 to swell, in March. Cut out any naked- 

 looking shoots not more than four or 

 five years old, avoiding amputations in 

 the larger limbs, and get their places re- 

 occupied by younger and better branches. 

 Keep a leading shoot at the end of each 

 branch. Vigorous shoots of the last year 

 shorten as far as the points seem ill- 

 ripened weaker shoots about one-third. 

 This promotes the production of laterals 

 for next year's fruiting, and gives a fuller 

 supply of sap to the blossom-buds. Cut 

 off gross, fore-right spurs ; but lateral 

 spurs may be retained, as they some- 

 times produce blossom-buds, as they 

 nearly always do in the Moorpark. Let, 

 also, all decaying or imperfect points be 

 pruned off. 



Espaliers are to be formed as those on. 

 walls; standards only requiring dead r 

 crowded, or chafing branches to be re- 

 moved. 



When an Apricot gets diseased, it is 

 much more profitable to replace it by a 

 younger, than to attempt its renovation. 



Gathering should take place before the 

 fruit is dead ripe, or it will be mealy. 



Thinning should commence as soon as 

 the fruit is large enough for tarts, in May r 

 or early in June; no fruit being left 

 nearer, finally, than about five inches to 

 another. The thinning may be done, 

 however, at twice. 



Insects. Wasps and flies are best kept 

 off by a net, at least a foot from the wall. 

 Sec EARWIG, P/TSDISEA, and AF T .IIS. 



Mildew is often the most formidable 

 assailant of the Apricot, as it usually 

 arises from excess of moisture to the root. 

 Draining the border, and mixing lime 



