138 APRICOTS. 



till intermediate dwarfs are large enough to occupy their 

 place, the practice of budding standard high upon the 

 Brussels stock may be allowed ; but to bud Apricots, or 

 any other fruit, upon the Brompton stock, is a practice 

 which ought to be discontinued, even for a temporary 

 purpose. Where trees of a more permanent character 

 are required, the substitution of such a stock cannot be 

 too strongly condemned. Indeed, I hope the day is 

 not far distant when so worthless a stock will be banished 

 from every nursery in the kingdom. I speak thus 

 forcibly, having been compelled to burn many hundreds 

 of beautiful-looking trees, of Peaches, Nectarines, and 

 Apricots, of two and three years training, which had 

 become wholly worthless, in consequence of their having 

 been budded upon the Brompton stock. 



Pruning and Training. 



In proceeding to the priming and training of Apri- 

 cots, I must refer to what is said in the propagation of 

 Peaches and Nectarines, so far as regards the choice of 

 trees, and their heading down, it being equally appli- 

 cable to the Apricot. 



If a maiden plant breaks well, it will furnish two or 

 three shoots on each side, which number in all cases 

 must be equal, in order to form a handsome tree : the 

 lowest shoot on each side must be trained horizontally, 

 and the others in an oblique or rising direction. 



In the following winter, if the branches on each side 

 be two or three, they must be shortened to six inches 

 each : these will furnish three each for the following 

 summer. In May or June, as soon as the shoots are of 

 a sufficient length, those which are the best placed must 

 be trained at five or six inches distance from each other, 

 removing at the same time such others as are not wanted. 



