486 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



the shoots being trained right and left, espalier style. The 

 fruiting shoots can then be removed every season, and fresh 

 sturdy growths laid in as they are produced for the following 

 year's crop ; some peg them down and cut off the ends after 

 August to strengthen the lower buds, which next year pro- 

 duce strong flowering branches. All the pruning necessary 

 is to cut away the old fruiting wood yearly, as with Rasp- 

 berries. When established, all grow strongly, and the plants 

 can be placed from 6 to 10 feet apart. The American sorts, 

 as a rule, flower satisfactorily, but only fruit freely in a few 

 positions, or in very favourable positions." The Parsley-leaved 

 Blackberry (Rubus laciniatus) is well spoken of ; it is the most 

 beautiful of the Brambles for its leafage and fruit. It is de- 

 scribed as the best of the Blackberries for general culture. 

 The fruit is very large, freely produced, and the foliage is 

 handsome, the stems being of a rich colour also, but the 

 flavour of the fruit is not equal to that of the wild Blackberry. 

 Wilson Junior is considered one of the best large American 

 black sorts, and grows very freely. The Lowberry is a large 

 black-fruited Bramble which crops well in sheltered positions. 

 It needs the same treatment and pruning as the Loganberry. 

 The Newberry is a fine new fruit of red colour and sweet 

 flavour ; and the Laxtonberry is also a useful new kind. 

 The treatment advised for Loganberries applies to both. 



THE APRICOT 



This fruit is largely planted against walls with a southern 

 or western aspect, and is also grown under glass, often in 

 pots. It needs the same soil and much the same treatment as 

 Peaches and Nectarines, but instead of disbudding the shoots, 

 pinching back of laterals during the summer should be adopted. 

 As the Apricot flowers very early, usually in February, it is 

 necessary to protect outdoor trees at that time with a double 

 thickness of fish netting or some tiffany. When fruit is 

 ripening under glass keep a rather drier atmosphere than is 

 recommended for Peaches and Nectarines. 



THE MULBERRY 



This fruit is not planted anything like so extensively as it 

 was years ago. The tree likes a deep, well-drained and rather 

 moist soil, and beyond an occasional thinning of growths does 

 not subsequently call for any special attention. It ought not 

 to be planted in very small gardens, as it eventually forms a 

 large and handsome tree. 



